Prior to the construction of I-675, this area was largely undeveloped, save for a few residential streets that traversed the current highway land to the north, to the south was once a horse track! On the west side of the highway was a train trestle, now an overpass of the Creekside Trail Bikeway. For decades, Beavercreek High School and Carroll High School students (allegedly) would alternate painting the bridge and concrete supports in support of their school’s athletic teams. The beautiful white home with the green roof on the south side was the center of the 160 acre Aaron Coy farm.

Turn around in the parking lot of Walnut Grove Country Club and return west past the 5/3rd Gateway Park and Ride Facility.

• Article of I-675 Construction Article of I-675 Construction
• Article about the graffiti on the train trestle Article about the graffiti on the train trestle
• One of the final pictures of the train trestle One of the final pictures of the train trestle
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Continuing west on Dayton-Xenia you’ll note a large two story commercial building now known as Copeland Roofing.  The front section was originally the farmhouse for the Morgan Dairy.  Across Dayton-Xenia was a barn that was often used for basketball and socials.  In the 1870’s, this was the 154 acre Adam Hawker estate which included a blacksmith shop, a cane mill (sorghum molasses), general store, platform train station (Hawker Station), and the location of the original Hawker Church and cemetery. 

A hard worker of limited education, Adam and wife Hannah (Westfall) owned the first evaporator and reaper in Greene County.  Adam served as a Township Trustee for five years.  Please consider reading Faith of Our Fathers (available at the Beavercreekand Greene County libraries) by Miriam Engle Allen for a wonderful read on the formation of Hawker Church.  Adam’s father was Andrew Hawker who came to Ohio in 1801 with Jacob Coy after marrying Jacob’s daughter, Susanna in 1798 - more on them later!

• Sorghum Mill Sorghum Mill
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Head south on Grange Hall Road, the intersection of Dayton-Xenia Road features the Charity Grange No. 1208 Building, currently known as the Beavercreek Event Center.  This Hawker Church-based Grange was a spin-off of the Beaver Grange which met at Beaver Church east of Alpha.  

Early Granges were established as a farmer’s collective for bulk purchasing plows, washing machines, coffee, sugar, tea and other commodities.  This fraternity stressed organization, education, cooperation and legislation as a remedy to some of the farm and national problems.  Charity Grange No. 1208 was organized in 1875 and originally met in the basement of Hawker Church.  This block building replaced a two-story frame building in 1953.

• Leonard's Parts Garage Leonard's Parts Garage
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Turn right on Grange View Drive and then right onto Timberline Drive. In 1855, this was Ealy (Aley) land including small sawmill on present day Longview Drive that was known as St. M. Located at 3937 Timberline Drive is a stately home formerly on a 179 acre estate built by John Aley in 1835. A unique feature of the home is the original double pie stairway. Most of the rooms have original windows and walnut woodwork. In 1874, it was the home of Valentine Cosler, an avid supporter of Hawker Church. Charles Beaver also bought this farm in 1948, sub-divided and developed it into Knollwood Estates.

You’re approaching Grange Hall Road. At the stop sign, glance to your right and see the approximate location of the Engle Sawmill at the intersection of Summerfield Drive.

• Engle Sawmill Engle Sawmill
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Next door at 3904 Knollwood Drive is the Albert Boone House, built in 1929 by Albert Boone, Sr., a well driller who drilled most of the wells in Beavercreek during the pre and post World War II building booms.  It was originally built at 3815 Dayton-Xenia Road (present location of Murphy’s Autocare) and moved in 1963.  The stone insets are fossilized sea shells collected by Al on his Florida vacations.  

When the Great Depression hit and the building industry suffered, people who claim to know said that Al made ends meet by operating a ‘Speak Easy’ in the basement until prohibition was repealed in 1933.  A legitimate Beer Garden with a dance floor was opened and was operated a short time until the economy improved and well drilling was again profitable.  Boone Water Systems, Inc. is still in operation.

Turn left onto LaGrange Road and then right onto Knollwood Drive.  The home at 3912 Knollwood Drive is the Engle-Wagley House, built around an 1803 log cabin originally constructed by Jacob Karch on land owned previously by Isaac Spinning.  In 1852 it was acquired by Peter Engle and in 1880 by David Engle, owner of a nearby sawmill.  David performed the initial renovations including adding a second story.  

It was purchased from the Engle family in 1950 by local developer Charles Beaver.  The home has had numerous renovations and additions honoring the heritage of the property, uncovering walls to expose the well preserved logs.

Turning right on Grange Hall Road, it’s interesting to note that this was not the original location of the road; the 1874 map shows it was one block east which is now known as LaGrange Road (see image below), while the 1855 map (above) has it angling west toward Aley Church, south of the woods.

The white frame home on the southeast corner dates prior to 1880 and faces west, toward the 1855 road location.  On the west side of Grange Hall at the intersecion of LaGrange Road is the location of the initial Aley School #3.

On the 1855 map above, the initials B.S.S stands for blacksmith shop and S.H. stands for schoolhouse.

• 1896 Map 1896 Map
• Aley School #3 Aley School #3
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Freedom's Call, a cost-free family orientated celebration, will have something for everyone. For adults, there will be live music from St. Andrews Pipes & Drums, The Kate Hastings Band, This Side Up and the popular Air Force Band of Flight. To harness young ones energy, there will be a children's play area with various activities. For those seeking food and drink, local vendors will be on hand to satisfy your request. The night will be capped off with a spectacular fireworks display lighting the night sky, starting at 10:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy the evening with the family at this Star Spangled event!

Heading west on New Germany-Trebein Road, you’re crossing land that was owned early on by the Harshman, Reece, Koogler and Hotopp families amongst others.  The intersection at North Fairfield Road was largely undeveloped until the late 1980’s when the Mall at Fairfield Commons was constructed.  The building of the mall was quite controversial.  Beavercreek was growing at a rapid pace following the installation of the I-675 bypass around Dayton.  Though the growth was likely inevitable, long-time residents initiated a campaign to ‘Stop Malling Beavercreek’ in the hopes of retaining the distant suburban feel they had enjoyed for decades.

The photo above, provided by Eric Nicholson, was taken at the intersection of North Fairfield and New Germany-Trebein Roads.  It is believed to be looking northeast, toward the current shopping center that includes Lowe's, Best Buy and Kohl's.

When crossing North Fairfield Road, New Germany-Trebein Road changes its name to Pentagon Boulevard, which formerly connected to Germany Lane in the town of New Germany across the highway. Looking at an aerial map, you can pretty clearly see where the roads previously met.

With $5 million remaining after the completion of its 2008 bond-funded facilities program, the Beavercreek City Schools Board of Education voted Thursday evening to address some of the district’s outstanding facilities needs, approving four construction projects that include: