A Remote Sensing Investigation of Historic Osborn, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Summary

This is a paper/report submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Dayton, Ohio flood of 1913 prompted construction of five dams along the Great Miami River and its tributaries. Huffman Dam and its detention basin’s design put the small town of Osborn, which dates to the mid-19th century, at risk of future flooding. As a result, many of the community’s homes and businesses were moved between 1922 and 1924. In coordination with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the National Park Service, Midwest Archeological Center performed documentary research and a multi-instrument geophysical survey to assess the condition and extent of archeological resources related to the former town. Historic aerial photographs and plat maps reveal substantial impacts from military expansion projects, gravel mining operations, and agriculture to the original site. Yet, our geophysical survey indicates that house foundations, outbuildings, streets, sidewalks, and utilities remain intact in portions of historic Osborn.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2020 SHA General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 849