Intersecting Lives

The Wright Brother's Home Days Celebration of June 17 and 18, 1909, was Dayton's grand recognition of Wilbur and Orville Wright's accomplishments. Wilbur, addressing the crowd at the Fairgrounds on the 18th, stated, "A feeling of pride seizes me as I receive these tokens of recognition from the nation, state and city, to all of which we owe allegiance..." Orville added, "I want to add my personal thanks for the honors bestowed and I only hope that our work is commensurate with the honors bestowed on us." (1)

And then they were off to Fort Myer for Orville's demonstration trials of the Wright Military flyer. Their father, and their brother Reuchlin would also travel to Washington to witness Orville's flights. Milton, writing to his grand-niece Grace Frazier on July 22, 1909, shared, "Reuchlin and I went to Washington the 28th of June and staid near four days.....In the afternoons, we saw the Wright brothers fly at Ft. Myer- Thursday evening, some ten miles at one flight. Late word is that Orville, Tuesday evening, 20th, [July] flew one hour and twenty minutes...."  (2) 

Wilbur would make national and world news as he circled the Statue of Liberty on September 29, 1909 during the New York City Hudson-Fulton Celebration. Wright flyers were being constructed in Dayton at the Speedwell Motor Car Company in early 1910, as the Wright Brothers were having their first factory building constructed, to be completed in November. 

Elsewhere that year in Dayton, a family living at 271 W River Street welcomed a baby girl into their home, and named her Kathryn. After enduring the 1913 flood, and then the tragic death of their 13 year old son in a sledding accident in January of 1914, the family moved to 454 Grafton Avenue, living there from 1916 to 1923. East of their home by 750', was the home of Lorin Wright and family, at 331 Grafton, where Lorin's family lived from 1913 to 1918. Lorin's brother Wilbur had died of typhoid, May 30, 1912. His brother Orville, sister Katharine, and father Milton had moved to their new home in Oakwood, Hawthorn Hill April of 1914. Lorin and family had fortunately moved to 331 Grafton from their home at 1243 West 2nd street just one week prior to the devastating 1913 Flood, placing them outside the range of the flood zone. 

The Baughan family living at 454 Grafton would often drive past Lorin's home, perhaps unaware of who lived there. If they had known, it likely would not have been of any great significance to them. The excitement of the Wright Brother's accomplishments was now old news for Dayton's citizens. Passing by, neighbors may have seen Lorin and his brother Orville in the front yard visiting, and watching Lorin's son Horace playing with a St. Bernard puppy, but they were viewed as just fellow Daytonians. Kathryn's parents, Oliver and Alta Baughan, would have known of Lorin, not just as Orville Wright's brother, but as one of the Dayton City Commissioners, serving from 1920 through 1927. 

 

Henry Hiddesen campaigning with Lorin Wright August of 1919 for two of the five City Commissioner positions. The five-member commission selected the city manager, and one of the commissioners acted as mayor. In 1922 through 1925, Frank B. Hale served as mayor. Hale had lived in the home immediately west of 1127 West Third when Orville and Wilbur operated their Cycle Shop at that location. (3)

Lorin and family moved from 331 Grafton further west to 530 North Grafton in 1919, seven homes west of the Baughan family. In 1921 Lorin and family moved further west to 1139 N Grafton. The next year, they moved to 619 N Salem. It was while living at the Salem address, Lorin and his son-in-law Harold S. Miller began their adventure with the Miami Wood Specialty Company. By 1936, their company would reach production of 1.5 million balsa wood toy flyers annually, selling world wide.

 

 

Lorin Wright family homes left to right, 331, 530, and 1130 Grafton, Dayton, Ohio. 331 Grafton photo by Author, September 2026. 530 and 1139 photos from Google Earth Street view. 1139 is a duplex property. The 619 N Salem home is no longer standing. 

 

The Baughan family moved from Dayton in 1924 to 62 East Dixon, Oakwood. Coincidentally, this location placed them within a short walk of 2000' to Orville and Katharine Wright's Hawthorn Hill home.  

 

At the age of 17, Kay (Kathryn) joined the crowd descending upon Hawthorn Hill that June 22, 1927. When asked if she went to see Orville Wright, she responded, "Oh, I didn't care about him! I went to see Lindbergh!" 

 

17 year old Kathryn Baughan (4)

 

 

 

From her home at 62 East Dixon, Kay would run westward, crossing Far Hills to West Dixon, and a left on Harmon Avenue. Kay would quickly reach the corner of Harmon and Park Avenue. Then a bee line up Orville's yard toward the house to catch a glimpse of Lindbergh.

 

View of Hawthorn Hill from corner of Harmon and Park Ave. Photo by Author.

 

One month after his famous May 20th to the 21st, 33 hour flight from New York to Paris in 1927, Charles Lindbergh had arranged for a private visit with Orville Wright. It was intended to be a personal meeting and dinner at Hawthorn Hill, and not a formal visit to the City of Dayton. Somehow the Mayor of Dayton and others misinterpreted the planned visit as including a drive through the streets of Dayton where 10's of thousands of Daytonians would gather to catch a glimpse of the Nation's hero. This private visit was hyped by the Dayton newspapers, and resulted in the Dayton population flooding to the streets that evening to catch a glimpse of Lindy. Lindbergh was under a contractual appearance arrangement that would take him throughout the 48 states over a number of months  and therefore could not agree to parade through Dayton on this visit. Lindbergh was transported by auto to Orville's home by another route that would avoid the crowded streets of hopeful observers. 

 

 

 

Author's copy of The Herald, Wednesday, June 22, 1927 Lindbergh Souvenir Edition. "The memory of this visit, Colonel Lindbergh, will remain forever enshrined in the hearts of the people of Dayton. That every hour of your visit will be crowded with 60 minutes of interest and pleasure is the united wish of the people of the cradle of aviation."

 

 

"9 P.M.- Dayton Committee will escort him through city to the home of Orville Wright, Harmon and Park avenues." The announcement resulted in thousands on the streets of Dayton expecting to see Lindbergh.

Lindbergh explained, "I'm just as sorry as I can be over the entire incident. When I heard that Dayton was preparing a parade and celebration, we telephoned from Scott Field and said that unless the celebration was called off I could not stop at Dayton. That is as clear as I could make it. I do not seek to place the blame anywhere, but I believe we have done everything possible under the circumstances".....Orville Wright greeted the flyer at the ship as soon as he had taxied the plane to the flying line. "You are coming out to dinner and we will like to have you come just as you are," Mr. Wright said. 

 

"Disappointed, thousands walked out to the Wright home at Harmon and Park avs., in Oakwood, and stormed the place. Others rode to the Wright residence and the place was packed with yelling humanity. Cheers and calls for 'Lindy' repeated, brought the flyer to the steps of the Wright home four times. A promise was exacted by the flyer that if he would come out once more, the crowd would disperse. This was the occasion of his fourth appearance and the crowd left when "Lindy' came and waved a brief moment." (5)

 

Photograph by William Preston Mayfield of crowd at Hawthorn Hill calling for Lindbergh to make an appearance. 17 year old Kay Baughan is somewhere in that crowd.

 

Within the June 22 Herald edition, The Rike-Kumler Co. purchased a quarter page banner to welcome the Immortal Hero of the Air.

Four months prior to the destruction of Orville Wright's landscaping, a baby girl arrived in nearby Bellbrook to the Fiste family and was named Erma. Fast forward to 28 years later. Kay found employment in 1945 at Rike-Kumler in downtown Dayton, and became the Editor of The Arkay News, Rike's monthly employee magazine. She allowed a young hire to write an article for the Arkay News, by the name of Erma Fiste . There wasn't time to gain permission from Kay's boss to run the article. Once published, Kay's boss called her into his office. Kay, thinking she was in trouble for including the article, instead was asked by her boss, "Who is this clever girl who wrote this funny article?" Erma and Kay remained friends for life. 

 

"The Arkay News Staff ensemble wishing you a joyful Yuletide, breaks down to....left to right: Front row: Erma Fiste, Dottie Clunk, Millie Kiger, Viola McMahon. Second row: K. Baughan, Kay Houser, Betty Wolff. Third row: Audrey Roth, Martha Darby, Camille Gabriel. Fourth row: Dorothy Jeffries, Katie Clemmer, Marg Owens. Back row: Roy Dodd, Elmer Webster, John Spangler. Not present for the picture  were: Jack Vinson, Fae Hall,, Marilyn Overholser, and Marg Osborn." December 1947 Arkay News issue from Author's collection.

Orville Wright died January 31, 1948. His funeral procession on February 2 that afternoon, took him down Main Street past Rike-Kumler and the Court House buildings on it's way to Woodland Cemetery. Kay and Erma most likely joined the crowd of people along Main Street as business was paused, and flags flown at half-mast. 

Orville Wright's funeral procession passed by Rike-Kumler at corner of Second and Main Streets.(6)

Erma was employed with Rikes from February 19, 1946 to November of 1949. She had married in August of 1949, and so listed her name on the last three issues of Arkay News as  Erma Bombeck, assistant to the Editor.

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February 21, 1978. Roz Young of the Dayton Daily News wrote-

"When Rike's was 75 years old (it's 125 this year) Frederick H. Rike, then president, began to publish a newspaper for the employees....The Arkay News is one of the first retail store newspapers. Now that it is 50, the paper is celebrating with a special golden anniversary edition. Over the years the paper has had 10 editors, but the one with the longest tenure, Kay Baughan, editor from 1945 to 1976, came back as guest editor for the special edition. For the special edition Kay called on two personalities who once had connection with Rikes. One responded by wire:

Hi Kay: I'm remembering the Arkay News staff luncheons I used to come in for as a guest speaker. And it was a lot of fun. One in particular I recall....somehow you and I had miscommunication, and instead of meeting you in the fifth floor dining room, I was told the ninth floor employee cafeteria. When I finally realized that people did nothing but eat up there, I hustled down to the fifth floor where a whole room full of employees were waiting for me with cheers. Congratulations on Arkay News' 50th. My sessions at Rike's are among my happy memories of Dayton. Best regards, Phil Donahue.

The other sent Kay a letter:

Kay Baughan has given me another assignment. It is like old times. She has come out of retirement for this issue and so have I to comment on the 50th anniversary of the Arkay News. I was a child of 8 when I joined the staff in 1945 (I cleared up my skin to look older). People rarely think a department store magazine as a farm for humor writers. Actually, there was a dearth of material just laying there waiting to be tapped. I hallucinated at Rike's for the next several years. And the readers laughed. Mother who worked in basement sportswear laughed. My Aunt Louise who worked in lamps laughed. My Aunt Martha who worked in shipping laughed. I knew it would be only a matter of time until the rest of the employees would catch on.......But I've always had a soft spot in my head for the powers at Second and Main streets who allowed me to say outrageous things in their magazine. Throughout the years, I have found that only secure people can laugh at themselves. So I only take on those who can handle it. I remember the Arkay News with fondness as do hundreds of people who were a part of it either as staff members or subjects. It was a classy publication. When I went to join The Journal Herald, I missed it. But when you're 13 years old, it's time to move on.     Erma Bombeck "

 

Kay's retirement, "For Kay- Whom I love- Erma Bombeck" From Author's collection.

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From "Forever, Erma", her husband Bill wrote, "In 1989 Erma began to experience a series of painful medical problems...Throughout these assaults she remained unbelievably optimistic....I have met astronauts, war heroes, fire fighters and police officers, but I have never known anyone with more courage than Erma....." (7) 

Erma Bombeck's gravesite is at Woodland Cemetery. It is an easy walk from her site up the hill to the Wright Brothers plot, and a bit further to Paul Dunbar's plot.  

Erma Bombeck's gravesite, large boulder by tree. The bench with two derby hats engraving reads, "Dedicated to the immortal spirit of Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright whose gift of powered flight lifted our world forever skyward." Photo by Author.

Kay befriended a young lady by the name of Virginia in her Oakwood neighborhood where they both attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church on West Dixon. Virginia had worked at Miami Valley Hospital in 1945 at about the time Kay had joined Rike-Kumler. Orville Wright's visits to Miami Valley Hospital due to his two heart attacks occurred in October of 1947 and January of 1948, and so Virginia and Orville did not cross paths. 

 

Eventually marrying in 1957 and welcoming a baby girl into their family in 1958, Virginia and her husband Lewis asked Kay if she would be their child's godmother. The answer was yes, with the baby pictured in Arkay News in the Summer 1959 issue. Kay's godchild would appear occasionally in  the December Christmas issues, with one picturing her being held by Santa Clause, and another in 1975 of her depositing money into the Salvation Army collection bucket. 

 

 

Arkay News, Summer 1959. Kay's Godchild Deb-Deb. From Author's collection.

 

Virginia and Lewis's daughter would eventually marry, with daughter and son-in-law both attending Wright State University; the son-in-law earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, resulting in eventually working on design projects on West Third Street, including the Gem City Ice Cream Building, Gunkel Building, Gunkle Block, and Webbert Flats. Further, he provided design for the former Boyer Funeral Home building where Orville Wright's preparation and visitation took place in February of 1948. Of these projects, neither the Gem City Ice Cream Building, nor the Boyer project moved beyond design stage. Gem City Ice Cream Building no longer stands. 

 

Orville Wright Visitation February 1948, Boyer Funeral Service, image courtesy of Dayton Daily News.

My mother-in-law, Virginia, died unexpectedly in our home Wednesday, October 25th, 2006. Through artificial means she was revived, taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where hours later she passed away. My wife's godmother Kay Baughan was under hospice care at St. Leonard in Centerville. We had been visiting her each day, but this day, I called to let her know we were not able to visit, but I did not share the reason why.

The following day, my daughter and I went for a brief visit with Kay. I debated whether to tell Kay of Virginia's passing, but decided against it so as to not add grief to Kay's discomfort. We knew Kay had perhaps a week or so left. Friday, my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and I visited with Kay. We had a good visit. Kay was laying in her bed dealing with some discomfort, as a result of no longer eating or drinking. Twice during our visit, she suddenly lifted her arm and pointed directly straight up, with a smile on her face. My wife thought when Kay looked at us, she was thinking, "Don't you see it too?". I asked Kay what she saw; did she see Heaven? Her smile grew brighter, and she said, "Yes!". 

My wife (Debbie) and I visited with Kay Sunday the 29th, and again, Kay suddenly pointed toward Heaven. Kay had told us that she prayed each night to die, and that she missed her parents and her brother, and wanted to see them again. Her parents had passed decades prior, and her brother died in the sledding accident in 1914 when Kay was not quite 4 years old. Debbie told her that it would happen in God's timing, and soon she would be there.

We continued to visit with her each day. Virginia used to visit with Kay often, and would say hello to Kay's roommate Mim, and ask Mim how she was doing. So, as we visited, Mim would ask us how Deb's mother was doing, and we would tell her Virginia was ok. What we meant by that was she was ok in Heaven. So neither Mim, nor Kay knew that Virginia had died. 

On Thursday, November 2, we attended the memorial service for Virginia. 

On Friday, I visited Kay during my lunch break. I had not visited that early in the day during her time under hospice care, visiting always in the evening. I was not sure if Debbie, having just lost her mother, was up to a visit that evening, which is why I headed at noon to St. Leonard. Kay had been moved to her chair by the window due to the need to switch out her bed because of issues with the bed controller. I sat in a chair next to, and facing Kay. She asked me if my daughter was coming to visit today, and I explained that she was at work, so just me today. Looking out the window, I commented that the bird feeder needed filling (one of my duties). I pointed out the blue sky, and colorful leaves on the trees.

Suddenly, Kay exclaimed, "I see Virginia.....I see Virginia.....I see Virginia!" First turning to look behind to see no one else had entered the room, stunned, and not knowing what else to say, I asked, "How does she look?" Kay, more calmly said, "She looks good." And then she continued to call out "Virginia, Virginia..."

Realizing that now was the time I needed to tell Kay that Virginia had passed away, I said, "Kay.....Virginia is in Heaven. She was very sick, and she's with Jesus now in Heaven. And she feels bad for you, and is waiting for you."

From the other side of the dividing curtain in the semi-private room, Mim, who listened in on all our visits, perks up, "Did something happen to Virginia? Did Virginia die?" So, after I have Kay calmed down, and tell her I'll be right back, I go over to Mim and kneel next to her wheelchair, and explain to her that we didn't want to tell Kay about Virginia, because we didn't want her to grieve, but when she suddenly saw Virginia, I had to tell her. Mim smiled. 

I rushed back to Kay. "Virginia was my best friend", she told me. Then in her sadness, she asked me, "Who could love me?". "Oh Kay", I told her, "You are loved by Virginia, by Jesus, by Debbie, by myself, by our daughter and son...." I told her how we've been such good friends for so many years. I suggested we call Deb, and so Kay and Deb talked briefly. As I left to go back to work, I told Kay we would be back that evening to see her.

That evening, Deb stood just outside the room, too emotional to see Kay at that moment. I knelt by her bed as the nurse using a suction device, removed flem from her throat due to her condition. Holding Kay's hand, she squeezed mine so hard. This lady still had her strength! With that over, Deb stepped into the room near the end of the visit. Kay looked at her goddaughter, and said, "Deb, I love you." Deb, fighting tears,  responded, "I love you too!"

Our phone rang at 5am the next morning, staff at St. Leonard calling to let my wife and I know that Kay had passed in the night. It has been twenty years since that day with Kay, but it seems like yesterday in my memory. Our lives intersect with others, and sometimes, those interactions change us...for life.

Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright 

 

Notes-

1.  The Dayton Sunday News, Friday, June 18, 1909, "Wright Brothers Make First Speech on Record, Touched By the Tribute of the Nation, Their Own State and Their Home City, They Break the Rule of a Lifetime and Address Words of Heartfelt Appreciation to the Great Audience Present." From Author's collection.

2. Milton Wright to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, July 22, 1909, 4-pg handwritten letter. From Author's collection.

3. The Dayton Sunday News, August 3, 1919 campaign ad. 

4. The Dayton Herald, December 3, 1927, Society and Clubs, Entertains as Bridge-Tea Saturday.

5. Dayton Daily News, Thursday June 23, 1927 "Flyer Tried To Stop Plans For Greeting Early". 

6. From Author's copy of The Dayton Daily News, Tuesday, February 3, 1948. I obtained this issue from the collection of Louis Christman, his personal copy. Christman restored the 1905 Wright Flyer now on display at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton.

7. Forever Erma, 1996 by the Estate of Erma Bombeck. 

Scipio, The Little One

Revised September 22, 2026 

Orville, Katharine, and their father Milton moved to their new home in Oakwood, April 28, 1914. Orville sold the Wright Company in October of 1915, and construction for his Wright Aeronautical Laboratory at 15 North Broadway was completed December of 1916. Transition from the old office at 1127 West Third to his new office at 15 North Broadway was completed, and his involvement with Dayton-Wright Airplane Company had not yet begun early in 1917. It was an ideal time to bring a new addition to Hawthorn Hill. 

Milton Wright wrote in his diary, Saturday, March 10, 1917, "Scipio came. He weighs 16 lbs. He is a St. Bernard dog. He is a good looking puppy." (1) Milton died in his sleep less than a month later on April 3. 

Orville took Scipio to Lorin and Ivonette's residence at 331 Grafton Ave to visit his nephew and niece's home (Milton, Ivonette, Leontine, and Horace). The family lived at this location from 1913 through 1918, having moved there just one week prior to the Dayton 1913 flood. Their former home at 1243 West 2nd street saw at least 8' of flood waters. That home no longer stands. The 331 Grafton home was out of the flood range. 

Photo is identified as "A snapshot of Orville Wright's dog Scipio, a St. Bernard........A man, perhaps Orville, is standing near him......" This photo would date to 1917, as Scipio is a still a puppy. This photo was taken at the front porch step of Lorin Wright's home at 331 Grafton Ave, Dayton. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2419, ms1_25_6_6. (2)

Katharine Wright, in a letter to Florence Clement, March 17, 1917, "I hope you will be coming with Mr. Guthrie soon. Orv wants to see little Jeanie again. He is sure she will like Scipio!" (3)

 

The Little One, Scipio, a puppy, 1917. Photo in back yard of Lorin Wright's home at 331 Grafton Ave. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries,Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2420, ms1_25_6_5. (4)

  

Ivonette Wright Miller, Lorin's daughter, wrote, "1917 was the year that Scipio came, a ball of fluff weighing 16 pounds, a St. Bernard puppy. Uncle Orv built a pen for him. Thus started a period of years when the lives of both Aunt Katharine and Uncle Orv were enriched by the presence of Scipio." (5)

Orville with Scipio in pen he built adjacent to south side of garage at Hawthorn Hill home. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2408, ms1_25_6_23.

Per a video display at Carillon Historical Park, "In 1917, Orville got himself a Saint Bernard. He named the dog Scipio after the name of a dog in a book one of his nephew's liked." Nearby, a wall display identifies the nephew, but indicates the name of the dog was in a story in a magazine Orville had in his library; the story being a favorite of Orville's nephew, Horace. In Fred Fisk and Marlin Todd's book "The Wright Brothers from Bicycle to Biplane", the authors wrote, "In a letter written by Horace Wright, nephew of the Wright brothers, he states, "The dog was given the name Scipio after a Roman General of about 180 A.D., General Scipio Afrieannus." Scipio Africanus actually lived from 236 to 183 B.C. The date of the letter was not provided for confirmation of the account.(16)

Display at Carillon Historical Park. "Shortly before Bishop Wright's death in 1917, Orville acquired a Saint Bernard dog. He named it Scipio, after the name of a dog in a story in a magazine Orville had in his library. The story was a favorite of Orville's nephew, Horace." Photos in display courtesy of Library of Congress. Photo of display by Author, September, 2026.

 

Robert Hadeler wrote, "We would see him [Orville] occasionally at other times- for instance, when we would be coasting on the watertower hill close to his home, he would rescue us from his big St. Bernard dog, Scipio, who liked to play, but who was as big as a horse." Robert lived at 900 Harman Avenue, across the street from Hawthorn Hill, to the east. Robert assisted Orville at Orville's vacation resort at Lambert Island in Georgian Bay in Canada for the years 1928 through 1932. (6) 

Orville took Scipio to Lambert Island for each of his trips there from 1918 through 1921. He did not go in 1917 due to his involvement with the design development of the Kettering Bug, and his assistance with the war effort at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. (7) 

Guy Johnstone wrote in his book 'From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK', "Orville missed going to his Georgian Bay Island in 1917. The year was not all bad, for he had acquired a new addition to his family, his new St. Bernard puppy named Scipio, who would be his friend for six years. Scipio went with him and Katharine to the Island most of the time; he was great fun for both." (8) 

Katharine, wrote in a letter to Orville (who had earlier left with Scipio on his trip to Lambert Island), July 19, 1918,

"Dear Baby Brother, Mistús [A term Katharine uses to describe herself] was so astonished at the report of meekness in the part of your pettie doggie, on his departure, that she has only now recovered sufficiently to write a letter to inquire about his subsequent behavior. Alas! Great fears are entertained as to that report. After you were gone, I thought of several things I wanted to say to you and felt a bit lonesome, so I thought "I'll get Scipio to come in the porch with me!" But the pen was empty and "little one" was gone! ......The sidewalks are being put in from opposite- our drive down toward Kenneth's today. There doesn't seem much to worry about since Scipio can't tramp around in it! The street is being repaired some, too.....I hope you are all well and happy, including "little one". And I hope you are getting enough to eat, also including Scipio.....Much love to Buster & Little One as well as to you." (9) [Orville had invited his grand-nephew Horace to the island. Horace's nickname was Buster.]

Katharine, in a letter to Orville, August 2, 1918, wrote,

"Your letter of last Sunday has just arrived. Mistús doesn't blame Little One for wagging his head and looking "funny", with a couple dozen of those "feathers" sticking in his nose & mouth. I'd like to see the encounter between Porcupine & Doggie......I will come up the middle of August, if you think it will be all right. Maybe we could stay one week in September...." (9) [This would not be the last time Scipio would encounter a porcupine.]

The next year, Orville vacationed with Col. E. A. Deeds and his wife Edith W. Deeds on a road trip out west. Katharine, in a hilarious letter to Orville, July 7, 1919, wrote, 

"Dear Little Brother, The Little One wishes Master [A term Katharine uses to describe Orville] would come back. Mistús [Katharine] is on an awful tear and didn't give L.O. any breakfast- just told him what he was, instead! And all this just because L.O., after being gooder than anything all day- and Mistús being good too, taking L.O. to the woods in the morning and for a walk in the hill just before supper- as I say- all this disagreeableness on the part of Mistús just because L.O. after a nice walk just before dark- suddenly darted across the street into Matterson's place and made off- Mistús trying to follow in the deep weeds and briars. Mistús hunted for an hour and finally went to bed, resolved that there would be no more twilight walks, no matter how innocent some one acted and looked.

So today Little One is sulking in his pen; Mistús is "mad" and everything is going wrong. Mistús lock shut the gate to the pen so L.O. couldn't get in. When Charlie [Charles Grumbach, husband of Carrie] went down this morning L.O. was in the East porch and growled at Charlie! Some One scolded Mistús a little bit Saturday night, because she tried to hurry him too much about going to bed. The weather has been cool since you left. Last night, we had to sleep under covers,- when sleeping we did, which wasn't much, with Little One out roaming about!...... Mistús will ask some one early this evening, if he will be a "good doggie now" and if Some One wags his tail and says "Yes" he will get a good supper, with some nice cookies for dessert...." (10)

Orville camping out west with the Deeds, July of 1919. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries Core Scholar Special Collections and Archives>Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2438, ms1_26_2_2.

 

Then, four days later, Katharine, in a letter to Orville, July 11, 1919, wrote,

"Little One has been gooder than anything- ever since the unfortunate excursion of last Sunday night. He wags his tail for Mistús most like he did for Master but Mistús looks for a sudden falling off of affection for her when M.er returns. Mistús feeds him and discovers that he knows the difference between "store" cookies and Carrie's. It was comical to see the change of expression when we changed from ginger snaps to Carrie's cookies. He seems very well & lively. The flies have been making his nose sore but Charles got some carbolic salve last night & rubbed it in. Little One tried to get it off to keep it from hurting him but gave it up. "Folks" don't know much about doctoring doggies!" (10)

The next year, Orville and Katharine's oldest brother Reuchlin died (May 23, 1920). Orville was in too much pain to attend the funeral. (11) (12)

From the Kansas City Times, Mo, Monday, May 24, 1920, "Reuchlin Wright, 59 years old, died yesterday at his home, 3836 Euclid avenue, following a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Wright was first stricken last Monday morning but seemed to be on the road to recovery when he received a second stroke from which he failed to recover. He was a brother to Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the first successful heavier-than-air flying machine..." Unfortunately, Orville was suffering from sciatica (11) at the time of Reuchlin's strokes and eventual death, and therefore neither Orville nor Katharine was able to visit Reuchlin during his final week. From the Dayton Daily Journal, May 24, 1920, "Information of a previous stroke which he suffered one week ago today summoned his younger brother, Lorin Wright, to Kansas City, where he and his wife now are. Orville Wright is ill with sciatica at his home in Oakwood, so neither he nor his sister, Miss Katharine Wright, will be able to go west..."

 

How terribly sad it must have been for Orville and Katharine to not be able to be with Reuchlin during his final days. Katharine wrote of the experience to her friend Vilhjalmur Stefansson December 26, 1923, and within the letter wrote the following, "We had the family (twelve besides ourselves) for dinner Christmas Eve and for supper, in the kitchen, last night. After they had gone last night I had a chance to sit down before the wood-fire in the living-room and think about you. I was thinking about Christmas Eve four years ago when we had a Christmas telegram from you- and about on any, many other nice things that I love to remember. I wonder if you ever knew about the one letter that just about "saved my life". It was just after we had been in New York, for the medal, and Orv was down in bed after we got home. My oldest brother was ill too and we couldn't go or do a thing. I had to stay with Orv and he was very uncomfortable and I was worn out with anxiety. On Saturday afternoon in the last mail came a dear letter from you. I'll never forget what that letter said. I know it by heart. Well, I can't tell you how it helped me through that black time- my brother died the next morning- and I needed comfort."(13)

Orville eventually recovered from the bout of sciatica, and was able to return to Lambert Island that summer. Katharine Wright, in a letter to Griffith Brewer, September 17, 1920, wrote, "The trip (from Lambert) wasn't very hard on Orv. He seems more free from lameness than for weeks. The "Little One" (Scipio) was very dirty but otherwise all right. He ran everywhere to visit his old haunts." (14)

 

Katharine Wright and Scipio at Lambert Island. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2423, ms1_25_6_35.

 

The 1921 trip to Lambert Island included a rematch between Scipio and the porcupine. Scipio did not come out on top this time.  

 

Scipio tried to make friends with a porcupine at Lambert Island during his visit there in 1921. That didn't go so well. Orville and Katharine tied Scipio down in order to more easily remove the quills. Image courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brothers Photographs>2426, ms1_25_6_31.

1921 was the last trip to Lambert Island for Scipio, not because of the porcupine encounter, but because of his health. "Scipio had to be put down in 1922 because of a joint disorder which is common to the breed." (7) Orville and Katharine lost their Little One on February 1, 1922. Sadly, Orville and Katharine shared just short of 5 years time with their St. Bernard. 

 

Goodbye Scipio! Lambert Island image of Scipio courtesy of Wright State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)>Wright Brother Photographs>2457, ms1_26_3_42.

Many on-line sources indicate Scipio's death occurring in 1924, which is incorrect. His burial location is not known.

Griffith Brewer to Katharine, February 24, 1922, "I received your letter of the 9th February......I cannot say how sorry I was to hear about Scipio. It must be a terrible loss to Orv and also for you...." (10) 

Katharine Wright, in a letter to Vilhjalmur Stefansson written May 17, 1922, "It will be hard for Orv to go to the Island without the Little One." (15) 

 

"The only photo that Orville had in his wallet when he died", per image designation, courtesy of Carillon Historical Park, and the Wright Family. Scipio east of front entry to Hawthorn Hill. 

 

Scipio is commemorated as providing one of the seats on the Carillon Historical Park Carousel. Photo by Author September, 2026. 

Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright  

 

Recommended Reading- From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK, by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011. Fantastic book on Orville's adventures at Lambert Island, with many photos of Scipio and the Island.  

Notes-

1. Milton Wright Diaries, Wright State University.

2. Hawthorn Hill home has all brick facing. The home pictured has lap board siding. Lorin's 331 Grafton home still stands. The porch railing has been changed, but the porch column details remain, and match that in this photo. The details of the porch column which help match these two photos is close to being lost per my visit this September 2026.

 

Side by side view comparison of the 1917 photo of Scipio compared to 2019 photo. The steps that Scipio sat on have been removed and step access to the porch is now located to the west.

 

September 2026 photo by Author. Unfortunately the front porch at 331 Grafton is in danger of collapse. The details of the front door and left column have been lost since the 2019 photo above. 

 

3. Letter, March 21, 1917, Katharine Wright to Florence, Wright State University Core Scholar Special Collections and Archives.

4. The block at grade, and lapboards identify this photo as at 331 Grafton, and being taken likely the same day as the porch view of Scipio. I visited the site September 10, 2026, and deduced the view was shot in the back yard of the home. The single story addition built after 1917 is highlighted with blue outline. Scipio would have been in the position shown, but back near the original constructed building face.

 

331 Grafton Ave, Lorin Wright's home, photo by Author, September 2026. Single story addition to rear highlighted in blue did not exist when this picture of Scipio was taken in 1917. The 1917 photo is aligned with the home with  the vertical yellow line.

 

5. Wright Reminiscences, compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, Ivonette Miller's Reminiscences, pg 19. 

6. Wright Reminiscences, compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, My Summers with Orville Wright, by Robert Hadler, pg 97.

7. See my posts-

 Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug

 Orville Wright- Until the Cows Come Home

 Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Research Station 

15 North Broadway- The Wright Aeronautical Laboratory 

8. From Kitty Hawk to Kittyhawk, Orville Wright's Life on Georgian Bay in Canada, by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011.

9. Library of Congress, Family Papers: Correspondence--Wright, Katharine, 1912-1918. Source Collection- Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright papers, 1809-1979.

10. Library of Congress, Family Papers: Correspondence--Wright, Katharine, 1919-1924. Source Collection- Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright papers, 1809-1979.

11. The two paragraphs that follow are taken from Reuchlin Wright- The Eldest Wright Brother

12. Orville suffered from bouts of sciatica for the rest of his life due to injuries received in September of 1908 at Ft. Myer. Travel during his times of illness was not possible due to extreme pain.

13. Katharine Wright to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, December 26, 1923, 4 pages hand written, from Author's collection.

14. As quoted in "From Kitty Hawk to KITTYHAWK" by Guy R. Johnstone, 2011, pg 41.

15.  Katharine Wright to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, May 17, 1922, 6 pages typed, from Author's collection.

16. I will continue to search for this letter written by Horace. A popular book that may have been within Orville's library (yet to be confirmed) was Jacob Abbott's "Hannibal", 1876. The book may have originally been in Milton's library. Harper & Brothers Publishers published a printing in 1901. Chapter Ten is called "Scipio". 

 

 

 

Getting the Story Wright, One Post at a Time

This post is my 100th. My initial posts for this blog date back to May of 2014. Over the past twelve years, as I've added posts, no post is really considered officially finished. As I've come across additional information applicable to a specific post topic, I've added information or made revisions to that post. For a number of topics, I've reworked and republished the post, usually keeping the original post, but noting that a newer revised version is available. In a sense, this blog is meant to be a living document of the Wright Brothers, meaning that unlike a published book, this story can continue to grow in scope, with corrections made without requiring printed errata or newer editions. 

I believe my world view, faith, and life experiences, aids me in interpreting the Wright Story in a unique way. Wilbur and Orville were preacher's kids, as was I. Their father's occupation required the family to move often, as did our family. I'm an introvert as was Orville, and often I will be lost in my thoughts as Wilbur was. I understand the demands, pressures, and responsibilities of a preacher's life, and so view Milton through that lens. And growing up with 7 siblings, I understand the dynamics of a larger family. 

Reading through 150 or so aviation books, I continually came across contradictions between different author's accounts of Wright history, and contradictions from what authors stated compared to what I read from the primary sources. This led to the desire to provide corrections by creating this blog. As my personal collection of Wright memorabilia has grown, I've been fortunate to obtain family letters that provide a window into the lives of the Wright's extended family lines, which gave me a unique opportunity to share those stories in my posts. 

The Wrights solved the age long mystery of heavier than air flight, and they were the first to fly in December 17, 1903. They continued to develop their machine at Huffman Prairie in Dayton, Ohio in 1904 and 1905, culminating in the world's first practical flying machine in October of 1905. No one successfully flew before them. The brothers were equal partners, and each contributed to the final solution. Of course, each had their own unique gifts in the effort. Their sister Katharine provided social and emotional support, but did not contribute financially or perform mathematical calculations for the invention. Their father provided loving support, and was not the domineering ogre as portrayed by so many historians. Their brother Reuchlin was not estranged from the family, and enjoyed a lifelong loving relationship with his father Milton. Orville was an introvert, but was a jokester and a tease around family and friends, and yes he did have close  friendships with multiple people. Some of the details concerning the brothers printing and cycle businesses have been in error, and the corrections I've documented can easily be proven through examination of the Sanborn maps and Dayton directories and records.   

So that sums it up. Just working at getting the story Wright, one post at a time. 

 

The 100th Post, Getting The Story Wright. (1)

The following are what I believe to be my top 25 best contributions to the Wright Story:

Gem City Ice Cream Building and Wright's First Cycle Shop

It had been long thought that the Wright's first Cycle Shop had been located within the Nicholas Block building, which later became occupied and expanded by the Gem City Ice Cream Company. My research found that the building did not exist in 1892/93 when the Wrights opened their first location.  

The Wright Brother's Print and Cycle Shop Locations

The identified locations of several Wright Print and Cycle Shop buildings had been in error due to a lack of understanding by previous historians that address changes had occurred on West Third Street. The original Print Shop at 1210 West Third had been wrongly identified as within a building that didn't exist within the time period. The first Cycle shop was not at 1005, but instead was at 1015 West Third Street. The second Cycle Shop location was not in the empty lot previously occupied by the Orth Building, but instead was within the footprint of where the Setzer Building remnant now stands. 

Reuchlin Wright- The Eldest Wright Brother

Reuchlin has been portrayed by many historians as a troubled individual, estranged from the rest of the family, insecure, and unsuccessful in his life pursuits. I believe this is an unfair assessment of this man of good character. Not just unfair, but factually incorrect, and not supported by the evidence.  

Christianity amongst the Wrights 

Wilbur and Orville grew up within a Christian family. Wilbur took care of his mother the last two years of her life, and the brothers wrote "We children learned to look upon mother as almost perfection itself...A Christian since a child....Mother will ever live as the truest Christian, the noblest woman.....her spirit will ever be with us." Other authors have written that neither brother had their father's faith. I disagree, and provide my thoughts in my most popular post.

Bishop Milton Wright, Father  of the Wright Brothers, The Wright Story and Bishop Milton Wright, Editor of Religious Telescope and Father of Wilbur and Orville Wright

Milton Wright has been portrayed in such a negative light by so many different historians, often with accounts that were simply false. I believe I've written a more accurate and definitely a more positive picture of this man of steadfast faith, and a strong love for his family and community. 

The Missing Milton Wright to Grace Frazier Letters 

Through an act of providence, I obtained an archive of 34 letters written by Milton Wright to his grand-niece Grace Frazier, along with photographs, family letters, and other items associated with the Harvey Wright family tree. I had purchased the archive at Auction, but the letters were lost by the California Auction house prior to mailing. Two years later, the letters surfaced in New York City. The archive is freely shared in this post. The family lines are explained in detail. Grace was one of Harvey Wright's grand-daughters, daughter of Emma Jane Wright and William Edward Frazier. Harvey was one of Milton Wright's brothers. Many of Milton's letters shared in this post inform Grace of Wilbur and Orville's activities, with the letters spanning from 1909 through 1913, including news of Wilbur's illness, and of the Dayton flood.

Wilbur Wright's Final Flight 

This account of Wilbur's battle with typhoid fever is unique in that it shares the content of several letters within the archive mentioned in my post, The Missing Milton Wright to Grace Frazier Letters, previously unknown to historians written by Milton Wright. He shared his thoughts with his grand-niece Grace Frazier in a letter written May 18, 1912, "But he had a strong attack of typhoid fever, two weeks ago, yesterday, and it is too soon, to expect any abatement of it...." Then within hours of Wilbur's death, Milton wrote to Grace a letter dated May 29, 1912, shared in this post.

The Story of Herbert and Irene Wright and Raising Wilbur Herbert Wright 

These two posts are based on an archive I obtained of family letters and photographs saved by Wilbur Herbert Wright, son of Herbert and Irene Wright. Herbert was Reuchlin and Lulu Wright's son, and so was Orville Wright's nephew. Wilbur H. Wright was Orville's grand-nephew. The Story of Herbert and Irene Wright includes letters written by Irene to her husband Herbert while he served in France during WWI. The post ends with the birth of their son Wilbur. Raising Wilbur Herbert Wright tells the story of the difficulties Wilbur had losing his mother just prior to his 11th birthday, and then adjusting to a new family when his father remarried several years later. Wilbur enjoyed multiple trips visiting his Uncle Orv at Lambert Island, and associated letters are shared.

Five Copper Cents- The True Account of Jacob and Amanda Billheimer- Reuchlin Wright's In-Laws 

I don't believe Reuchlin Wright's In-laws, the Billheimers, have been represented fairly by many Wright Brother historians. This post provides details of the struggles of William Hanby, Amanda's father, and of Amanda's upbringing. Jacob and Amanda served as missionaries in Africa at the risk of their own lives due to resulting health issues. The family eventually would move to a home south of the Wright family homestead on Hawthorn Street, where Jacob and Amanda's daughter Lulu would meet Milton and Susan Wright's son Reuchlin. 

Orville Wright- A Genuine Friend

Orville Wright has at times been portrayed in a negative light and therefore treated rather unfairly by certain authors. One such example can be found in Lawrence Goldstone's book "Birdmen- The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies". In the Epilogue, the author wrote, "For all his achievements and notoriety, it is difficult to view Orville Wright as anything but a sad and lonely man who never found his calling- and perhaps never sought it- and who died without ever making one genuine friend."  Colonel E. A. Deeds wrote, "I have known Orville Wright intimately for many years. He was one of my closest friends and his passing is a deep personal loss." In this post, Goldstone's statement is shown to be a total misrepresentation of Orville Wright's personality and of his relationships. 

Hawthorn Street, Dayton, Ohio- Neighborhood of the Wright Brothers 

Who were the neighbors of the Wright family during the years of 1871 though 1914? Who were the families that shed the tears and shoveled the mud of the 1913 flood from the basements and first floor of their homes, side by side with Milton, Orville, and Katharine? Some of the names we know; the Sines, and the Feights. Louis Chmiel, author of Ohio Home of the Wright Brothers Birthplace of Aviation,  had suspected Reuchlin's in-laws home still stood, but due to address changes along Hawthorn, the home had sat preserved, hidden from history. This post confirms Louis Chmiel's suspicion that the Billheimer residence still stands on Hawthorn Street.

15 North Broadway- Wright Aeronautical Laboratory 

Orville did much more than just "tinker" at his Laboratory at 15 North Broadway. I've provided details of the building itself, providing my best guess as to the floor plan layout. The 1903 Kitty Hawk Flyer sat in this building, restored, and awaiting shipment to London in 1928. Orville's new 1916 wind tunnel was utilized to perform design testing for the world's first self-guided aerial bomb, the Kettering Bug. Orville designed a cypher machine here during WWII. I believe this is one of my most informative posts on a portion of Orville's life that perhaps readers have not found covered to much extent elsewhere. 

The Miami Wood Specialty and Wright-Dayton Companies 

The Miami Wood Specialty Company was founded in 1922, with Lorin Wright as Vice-President, and his son-in-law Harold S. Miller as secretary and treasurer. By 1924, Lorin was manufacturing "Flips and Flops", a toy designed by his brother Orville. Other wooden toys were produced which sold not just in the Dayton area, but world wide. Balsa wood Wright Flyers and other airplane designs were offered, and by 1936, 1.5 million toy airplanes were manufactured annually. This post provides history of Lorin's company, which became the Wright-Dayton Company after changing ownership following Lorin's death in 1939. 

Edwin Sines- Life Long Friend of the Wright Brothers 

Ed Sines has often been referred to as the "childhood friend of Orville Wright", but his relationship with Orville and the entire Wright family was much more than just that. He was also friends with Wilbur, Reuchlin, Lorin, and Katharine, well into their adult lives. Further, his parents, Thomas and Isabella were close friends with Milton and Susan Wright. This post follows the life and accomplishments of Edwin Sines, his wife Beatrice, their nephew John Jackson, and other family members. I was blessed to obtain a postcard directly from the grand-niece of  Edwin and Beatrice, sent to Ed by Wilbur Wright from Le Mans in October 1908. Cards sent to the Sines family by Orville and by Katharine are also shared. Again, a unique telling of the life of Edwin Sines, a post I'm proud to have produced.

Lottie Jones and the Wright Family 

Lottie Jones assisted the Wright family with Laundry services for the majority of her lifetime, from the age of 21, (or possibly even as early as age 17), to the early 1940's. She purchased the Wright home at 7 Hawthorn Street from Katharine Wright in 1923, and eventually sold it at Orville's request to Henry Ford in 1936. In this post, I share details of Lottie and her husband Luther's family and struggles. Details are provided of which you will not find in any books on the Wright Brothers, and I'm again proud to have the opportunity to tell the story.

Amos I. Root Much A Buzz About the Wright Brothers

Amos I. Root was a neat individual. In this post I simply share the contents of many of his letters written to Wilbur and Orville, which are readily available in the archives of the Library of Congress. In that sense I'm not presenting new information, but, the story of his contacts with the Wright's hasn't been presented in a consolidated manner elsewhere (that I'm aware of), and so I feel the account I provide in this post is unique in that sense. Amos Root, a man true to his faith to the very end.

Wilbur and Orville Wright, Equal Partners in First Flight

So many authors have written that either the majority or all of the credit for the Wright Flyer should go to Wilbur Wright. This, in spite of what was expressed by Wilbur, Orville, Katharine, their father Milton, their niece Ivonette, and other family members, relatives, and friends- that the brothers were equal partners in the research and solutions to heavier than air flight. Why shouldn't we take their word for it?  

The Wright Brother 1903 Western Union and Postal Telegraph Telegrams

It is one thing to forge a signature onto an old envelope or photo which essentially simply separates the uneducated buyer from his finances. It is quite another thing to forge a document that if not recognized as such, could in effect change the accepted history of an event. In this post I provide the true history of the various telegrams sent by Wilbur and Orville Wright from Kitty Hawk in December of 1903 to their family in Dayton, Ohio, and then compare these to  telegrams made to appear as if they were sent by the Wright Brothers. I end the post by exposing a similar fabricated telegram made to appear as if it were sent during the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. This telegram was evaluated as genuine and offered for sale by a major Auction house for a starting bid of $25,000, but fortunately it did not sell. Smithsonian Magazine even published an article about this "historic" Titanic telegram. I prove positively that the telegram was created at least two years after the Titanic sank!  

The 1903 Wright Flyer Fabric and Wood Remnants

This post is one of my longest, and possibly the interest in its contents will be to a degree limited to those who have purchased pieces of fabric and/or wood fragments that have been documented as from the 1903 Wright Flyer. I put a lot of research and work in this post, with the intent to raise a number of questions concerning these collectables. The Flyer was stored in shipping crates from 1903 to 1913, and was submerged under flood waters and mud. No record exists that any cleaning effort occurred until the crates were unpacked in 1916. What was the level of damage to the fabric, and what percentage of the fabric was repaired or replaced when the flyer was restored in 1916 for display at M.I.T.? The Flyer fabric was totally replaced in 1926/27 in preparation for shipment to London. How do we know that fabric remnants in our possession date to flown 1903 fabric, vs. fabric removed in 1926/27 that was installed in 1916? I absolutely believe portions of the 1903 fabric survived, but which portions?  I provide evidence strongly suggesting the lower left wing 127.5 SF fabric on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton is 1903 flown fabric with 1916 repair patches. Further, I provide evidence strongly suggesting the roughly 144 SF upper right wing fabric in the Smithsonian archives is 1916 fabric removed in 1926/27.

1127 West Third Street- The Wright Cycle Company 

The Wright's Cycle Shop formerly located at 1127 West Third Street in Dayton, Ohio is currently preserved at the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. This post covers the history of this building and how it was moved piece by piece to Greenfield Village, with photographs of the construction as provided with courtesy of the Collections of the Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center, collected there during my research visit for this article. 

The 1913 Dayton Flood, and the Wright Family and The 1913 Dayton, Ohio Flood- As told by Bishop Milton Wright

My initial post provides a list of the Wright's neighbors in 1913, and maps showing where close neighbors on the west side of Dayton lost their lives. Milton's day to day diary entries are shared during the period and aftermath of the flood, and expanded upon with related information and photos. I share a number of flood related items from my collection, and a letter written by a woman to a friend describing the flood conditions. In the second post, I used articles written by Milton Wright published in The Christian Conservator in April of 1913, where Milton tells his account of the flood in detail. Further, I share a letter Milton wrote to his grand-niece Grace Frazier written April 18, 1913 with details of the flood, followed by another letter dated June 10th, both letters from my collection.

The Wright Brothers 1909 Celebration, Dayton, Ohio 

Numerous Wright historians have claimed that Wilbur and Orville were not pleased by the celebration Dayton hosted June 17th and 18th of 1909. They quote a letter Wilbur wrote two weeks prior to the celebration where Wilbur, writing to Octave Chanute says they are not as appreciative as they might have been as the celebration was planned in spite of their known wishes. But these historians then don't examine the reaction of the brothers during the celebration! Wilbur was in tears! Numerous authors have written that Wilbur and Orville were unsmiling during the ceremony, and said only a few words. This is nonsense, and I correct the history in this post with their statements and photographs of their huge smiles during the event.

 

In addition to the posts on the history, I've also written posts on collecting items associated with the Wrights.   

Buyer Beware When Collecting Wright Brother Items- Revised 

I've written 16 posts on collecting items associated with the Wright Brothers. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with products made to appear as if signed by Wilbur and Orville, and they are offered everyday on E-bay and by a multitude of auction houses. And unfortunately, they sell. My posts provide information on collecting letters by Orville and Wilbur, pilot licenses signed by Orville, 1909 Dayton Celebration posters and programs, first flight magazines and newspapers, Orville Wright estate magazines, pamphlets, and bulletins, Louis Christman drawings of the 1903 and 1905 flyers, first flight photos signed by Orville, and other collectables. For the list of posts, check out the section "Collecting Wright Brother Items" within the main Index where all posts are listed, with links- Index

Finally, if you get my sense of humor, check out the last section of the index, "Wright Brother Humor".  

 

 

 Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright  

 

Notes-

1. Image generated by Google AI as prompted and edited by Matt Yanney / Getting The Story Wright.