The Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors

The Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors is an organization that has been around since the 1938 and has been highlighting local artists of Dayton ever since. DSPS was founded by local artists in 1938 who were associated with the Dayton Art Institute. DSPS meeting and exhibitions occurred at the Dayton Art Institute for many years, but it came time for the society to have their own space. The members bought a Victorian style house during Dayton’s urban renewal project located at 48 High Street in the St. Anne’s Hill District. 

                The house was built by Wesley Boren who moved to Dayton in 1836 from Tennessee. Boren actually walked to Dayton from Jonesboro, Tennessee and was penniless. He started his own business by using is training as a brick contractor, he started his own brick making yard in Dayton. He began building is own house at 48 High Street in 1869 where he and his family lived for the rest of his life. His daughter and her husband eventually moved back into the house after living just down the street from the Boren house. The family temporarily moved to higher ground during the 1913 flood, but thankfully the house was untouched by the water.

                The house was turned into a rooming house by many of the next owners. One owner lost the house during the Great Depression. It was later auctioned off and bought by David L. Smith, Chairman of the Board of the DSPS in 1967. There have been some additions and changes made to the house, such as the kitchen being torn down and replaced and a handicap ramp added to the back. The DSPS remodeled and converted the house into an art gallery where local artists can display and sale their art. 

Source: http://www.daytondsps.org/index.php/history/our-building