Why Seely’s Ditch?
The Ditch and land platted by Morris Seely, overlaid on Dayton today.
What’s with the name Seely’s Ditch?
Seely’s Ditch is in homage to Morris Seely’s canal project from 1830 that still impacts Dayton today, including the layout of streets, the storm sewer system, and even the new Warren Flats building in South Park.
To me, the story of Morris Seely is a perfect tragedy. He came to Dayton looking to make his mark. He reached levels many would call a success; Ohio House Representative, Ohio Senator, and only the 8th Mayor of Dayton. But he would never live up to the expectations of his in-laws (the Huffman family).
His biggest failure would be what carries on his name (even though he got a little screwed, or was just very unlucky).
A New Canal in Dayton
Little is known about Morris Seely’s early life, but in the early 1800s he came to Dayton from New York.
In 1825 he married Catherine Huffman - whose father William Huffman was an important businessman, and owner of real estate in Dayton. Catherine’s brother William P. Huffman would develop modern day Huffman Historic District which happens to be where the building is. These were big in-laws to impress.
In 1827 he would do some work on the Miami-Erie Canal in Dayton, a project he led, but mismanaged due to unforeseen hardships with the excavation. Nonetheless, he would complete it and then serve in the Ohio Senate from 1829-1830.
In 1830 Seely pursued a new idea: a canal through the undeveloped part of East Dayton, roughly from the Miami Erie Canal near modern-day St. Vincent De Paul Shelter at Patterson and Apple, to the old Garden Station, where it would meet up back up with the Miami Erie Canal where it’s fed from Mad River.
The tail race on a typical mill
Seely was a dreamer and he planned for the future too. On top of digging the new canal, he purchased more land around where his canal would flow, which he had platted into almost 300 small lots. He believed this development would be ideal for water-powered industrial and commercial use.
At the top near the Miami Canal and Mad River feeder he wanted to sell land back to the state for a mill, so he could use the tailrace (the leftover water from the mill wheel) to provide water for his new canal.
One small problem, the estate of Daniel Cooper, the original developer of Dayton had land along the feeder and sued.
Seely would lose everything. The canal was dug - but about one-third a mile short, ending near modern Oregon East . The ditch would lay open for almost 70 years and become known as Seely’s Ditch, Seely's Basin, or sometimes Seely’s Folly.
Seely would spend the rest of his life in court, trying to get back the money he had invested.
Due to family Illness, Seely called in sick his first day as Mayor, March 8, 1841.
Life After the Ditch
He would go on to still serve as a State Senator for a term, and even as the mayor of Dayton in 1841, but one month after his inauguration, he would resign. In 1842 he would file for bankruptcy.
In 1843 the Ohio Supreme Court would finally rule in his favor, awarding him what in today’s dollars would be around $275k. It would be too late to do him much good. His wife Catherine would pass in 1845 and he himself in 1847.
Even in his death - there was tragedy. No marked Morris Seely gravestone exists - but a gravesite was purchased by his son, across from his wife's gravestone with the Huffman family, where many in the family believe his body rests. It’s said the Huffman family refused to have him buried there, most likely from embarrassment.
If you're interested in a colorful version of the story, the late Robert Nevin wrote an entertaining and masterfully written account for the Montgomery County Historical Society in 1969 you can read it here.
Our Concept
Knowing the inspiration for the name is great, but what will Seely’s Ditch be about? Seely's Ditch was the cross-section of Dayton life. From the first African-American settlement in town, the home of Madam Lib Hedges, to today's South Park and Oregon District. Seely's Ditch should mirror the same.
At its heart, The Ditch will be a cozy craft snack bar, featuring 12 beers on tap, craft cocktails, and small bites. A neighborhood eatery, doing some fun exploratory concepts on “snacks”.
New food offerings in Dayton are always something to get excited about, but one piece I’m most excited about is the theme and corresponding decor, telling Dayton’s story.
All the decor in the building will be memorabilia, advertisements, and art curated to pay homage to stories of Dayton's past. Not just the Wright Brothers and usual characters, a true deep dive into people from parts of our city and who helped shape it.