On June 3, 1904, Matilda Dunbar took ownership of a house and two lots at 219 North Summit Street in Dayton. A two-story brick house had been built on the property in 1894, leaving the adjoining lot open. In 1902, the previous owner was forced to sell the home to the Montgomery County Sherriff, who then sold it to the Miami Loan and Building Association in 1903.
Deed, June 3, 1904. The Miami Loan and Building Association to Matilda Dunbar. (Selling price: $4100.00)
Paul Laurence Dunbar House. Historic American Buildings Survey, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, 1982. Page 2.
The home at Number 219 North Summit Street is a modest, substantial and comfortable nine-room, two-story, brick house. The front half of the lawn, which borders the house at the side, is ruled over by a silver birch and the back half is shared with flowers.
"An Appreciation of Paul Laurence Dunbar," by Rubie Boyd. Unpublished manuscript, no date [after 1934]. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
Matilda shared this home with her son Paul Laurence Dunbar, who was in failing health due to tuberculosis. It was Paul's final residence and he died there on February 9, 1906. After Paul's death, Matilda continued to live in the house for more than a quarter century. In 1923, the City of Dayton notified her that Summit Street was going to be paved. As the owner of a double lot, Matilda would be charged two assessment fees, for a total of $714.51.
You are hereby notified that on the 3rd day of April 1923, I filed with the Commission of the City of Dayton an assessment report for the improvement of Summit Street from Third Street to Wolf Creek by paving the roadway with brick, setting curb and gutter, constructing storm water sewer and doing other work incidental thereto, pursuant to the provisions of improvement resolution No. 1772 passed by the commission January 31, 1923, declaring the necessity of said improvement. Complaints, claims and objections as to the character of said improvement, the necessity therefore and the equity of the assessments as provided in said assessment resolution, will be heard by the Board of Revision of Assessments at the office of the City Commission, Room No. 12 City Building in the City of Dayton, Ohio, on May 10, 1923 at ten o'clock A. M.
Notice of Proposed Improvement and Assessment, Dayton, Ohio. April 3, 1923. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
In addition to the assessment fees, Matilda was also expected to install water and sewer connections from her house to the new city lines. Because of the large expense, she submitted a formal objection to the plan.
Herewith I state my objection to the proposed plan namely to pave N. Summit St. from Third to Wolf Creek. My first and chief reason to oppose this is that I am unable to meet the large expenditure of money that such improvement would require. My age and uncertain health make me unwilling to endorse this project and I hope it will be deferred for the present time.
Matilda Dunbar to the Board of Revision of Assessments, Dayton, Ohio. No date [May 1923]. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
After Matilda died in 1934, ownership of the property passed to the state of Ohio and the Ohio History Connection. Summit Street has been renamed for Paul Laurence Dunbar, and today the house is open to the public as a museum operated by Dayton History.