Old North Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The 1913 Flood - The Flood Gate - Remember the Promise Made in the Attic

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

1. The 1913 Flood - The Flood Gate - Remember the Promise Made in the Attic Marker

Inscription. The 1913 Flood The great 1913 flood devastated the entire Dayton community. The monuments in this Park are dedicated to the memory of those who died in the flood and the courage of the survivors. The spirit and determination of the Dayton citizens is a treasured part of our heritage.

The Flood Gate The design of the gate is based on a weather map of March 25, 1913. It represents the dramatic weather systems present during the 1913 flood. The gate was handcrafted by Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil, in partnership with nationally recognized blacksmith Francis Whitaker.

Remember the Promise Made in the Attic During the 1913 flood many Dayton residents were forced to the attics of their homes in order to survive. The Dayton community was determined to prevent such a disaster from happening again. Funds were quickly raised for the Miami Valley Conservancy District's flood control program, under the slogan "Remember the Promise Made in the Attic."

Design: Andrew Leicester
Fabrication: Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil
Restoration: John Koepnick

This colorful gate is all that remains of the former Flood Memorial Park, a

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1988 collaborative public art project involving artist Andrew Leicester, the City of Dayton and Old North Dayton neighborhood. Originally located across from Dayton Children's at the intersects of Valley and Alaska Streets, the gate and park were relocated in 2006.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1913.

Location. 39° 46.176′ N, 84° 10.55′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Old North Dayton. It is at the intersection of Valley Street and North Keowee Street, on the right when traveling east on Valley Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 Valley St, Dayton OH 45404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

2. The 1913 Flood - The Flood Gate - Remember the Promise Made in the Attic Marker

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old North Dayton (within shouting distance of this marker); Tony Stein Memorial Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); North Dayton Patriots Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Cpl. Tony Stein Memorial Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bridges for a New Era (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dayton and its Bridges 1938 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dayton's New Bridges 2017 (approx. 0.4 miles away); A City Beautiful For The 21st Century (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

3. The 1913 Flood - The Flood Gate - Remember the Promise Made in the Attic Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

4. The 1913 Flood - The Flood Gate - Remember the Promise Made in the Attic Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.