A day or two ago we took occasion to visit and do up the quiet village of Dayton, a town of some age and reputation located four miles north of Ottawa on Fox river. The central figure or chief object of attraction is Green’s Woolen Factory. This is a very extensive establishment and is one of the most complete in the state. The machinery comprises all the latest and best improvements. It is now running regularly and employing a respectable force of hands. The goods manufactured speak for themselves. They compare creditably with the very best that are made.

Next in importance to the factory is the Fox River Horse Collar Manufactory, of which Messrs. Dunavan and Brunk are the leading managers. This, from a very obscure beginning, has become to be a concern of wide notoriety. They turn out 200 dozen collars per month and orders are pouring in upon the company so fast that they find it necessary to drive the establishment to the fullest of its capacity and employ all their resources in order to supply the demand. They have found it necessary to increase their capital stock. They would like to change their base to Ottawa in order to avail themselves of the superior shipping advantages afforded here, and would come if our business men and water-power company would give them a little encouragement.

Dayton has two stores, one run by Hess & Green, a neat and well-filled country or general store, the leading features being a full supply of Dayton woolen cloths and groceries. The other is owned by Mr. Geo. Makinson, and is also supplied with a good assortment of groceries, notions, some dry goods, flour, salt, syrups, kerosene, medicines, &., and all sorts of country produce find a ready market in exchange for goods at cost at either store.

The hotel of the place is the Dayton Exchange kept in apple pie — or mince pie –order by Mr. Jennings. The house makes no very great exterior pretensions but the interior is neat and scrupulously clean and the beds and fare are unexceptionable.

Dayton is one of the prettiest and most picturesque locations in the state. On the east come the broken and irregular line of bluffs of Fox river with many dells, little caves, prominent points and diversity of scenery abounds everywhere.

The dam above the woolen factory across Fox river gives a resting place for fish, and the water not being deep except here and there the fish come here to find refuge, and the sportsmen pursue them by day and night with hook and line and tempting bait, and even the merest tyro in the art of angling seldom fails to be well rewarded for his time and trouble.

Dayton, we believe, is a temperance town, no saloon is permitted within the limits nor nearer than Ottawa, and the general morals of the place are quoted at “above proof,” as they say of good “spirits.”¹

1. Ottawa Free Trader, April 25, 1874, p. 8.