Five Oaks History

North of the Great Miami River between Salem and Forest Avenues is the neighborhood of Five Oaks. For many years known as part of Dayton View, Five Oaks took its present name from the estate of Jeremiah Hunt Peirce, who named his 1854 mansion for “five stately oak trees” on the grounds. The rural nineteenth century landscape became prime development land at the turn of the century as Daytonians moved out from the center city to make their homes in the new suburbs on the city’s edge. By the 1920’s the grand estates, farms and orchards had given way to the stylish homes of the city’s business and professional classes.

Points of Interest

CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH AND SCHOOL at 529 Forest Avenue. Established on March 19, 1911, the new congregation began to hold Mass in the commercial building on the point at Main Street and Forest Avenue. The present Spanish Mission style building was dedicated December 24, 1911. Designed by architect William E. Russ, it is said to have been “the only structure of its style in this section of the country,” and was chosen “to break away from the stereotyped forms of church architecture.”

The “Old Barney Homestead,” built by Edward E. Barney around 1898, was later the home of Peter Kuntz, founder of local business PK Lumber. It was renamed “Villa Julienne” in 1923 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who purchased the estate for the new home of their academy day school for girls, Julienne High School.

Corpus Christi

Girls Baseball Team

Corpus Christi Parish began in 1911. The school opened in 1912, with an enrollment of 130, and staffed by three Sisters of Charity and one lay teacher.

Groundbreaking of the Faith United Church of Christ, 1921.

200 Delaware Ave.