In the late 1840’s Robert W. Steele, for whom Dayton’s first high school was named, built a home at 225 North Ludlow Street. Napoleon Bonaparte Darst purchased the house in the 1860’s and began extensive renovation and enrichment, thus changing the Classic Revival style of Mr. Steele’s home to the Second Empire style.
In 1916 a group of civic-minded women met to plan the establishment of an organization to provide women of the area with a center for social, civic and literary activities.
To finance its purchase, the founders sold stock at ten dollars per share. Mrs. Charles H. Kumler, president of the Dayton Federation of Women’s Clubs, later the first president of The DWC, headed a stock-selling drive among the members of The Federation.
On November 1, 1916, The Woman’s Clubhouse Company of Dayton, OH --The Dayton Woman’s Club -- was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio.