Preserve...Beautify...Unite
Our Heritage
Before it became Clayton, our community was known as Salem—a name inspired by “Sholem,” the Hebrew word associated with peace. Founded in 1816 by John Leatherman, the town began with a plat of 75 lots and grew to about 350 residents by 1880.
When residents petitioned for a post office named Salem, the request was denied because another Ohio post office already used that name. The town was renamed Clayton in 1841, possibly in honor of John Clayton, a soldier killed in the War of 1812.
Early roads helped connect Salem to the wider region, including a route from Dayton through Salem to Greenville. Around 1847, the Salem Turnpike was established to link Salem with the Dayton and Covington Turnpike. Although later road changes brought less traffic through the Village of Clayton, the community continued to thrive.
Clayton’s story continued in 1998, when the Village of Clayton joined with the remaining unincorporated areas of Randolph Township to form the modern City of Clayton—marking the community’s transition from village to city.
Historic Clayton Association was founded in 2025 with a plan to continue to build on Clayton’s rich history. By fostering civic engagement and caring for the beauty of our neighborhood, we help keep the legacy of Historic Clayton vibrant and strong. Join us in protecting the heritage that makes our community truly unique.
Our Team
Catherine Springer
Once a longtime resident of Englewood, and more recently, a newer resident of historic Clayton, Catherine Springer’s passion for understanding the history and preserving the beauty of the community’s homes, while honoring the people who live here, inspired her to work with others to found the Historic Clayton Association.
Michael Martin
Mike is a Realtor Certified as a Historic House Specialist and co-owner of Kamela & Co Realty. Mike has extensive experience working with people and homes in historic neighborhoods. His passion for historic homes inspired him to work with others to found the Historic Clayton Association. Mike has received a number of awards from Dayton Realtors for Community Service, Realtor of the Year, Owner of the Year and an award for service to the underserved. He has received numerous Preservation awards.
Greg Merkle
A longtime resident of Clayton, Greg has served as a Clayton Council Member for 16 years, prior to that he was a member of the 1997 Clayton Charter Commission. His belief in Clayton’s residents and in the potential of the community also led him to join the Historic Clayton Association.
Dennis Lieberman
A longtime resident of Clayton, Dennis is an attorney who served on the Clayton Council for many years. His belief in historic Clayton inspired him to help found the Historic Clayton Association.
Tina Kelly
A longtime resident of Clayton and local small business owner, Tina has served on the Clayton Council and continues to be active in community leadership. Her belief in historic Clayton and commitment to preserving its history inspired her to help found the Historic Clayton Association.
Jennifer Purnhagen
A proud resident of historic Clayton, Jennifer's passion for its storied past and her desire to build strong community bonds drove her to help launch the Historic Clayton Association. She is dedicated to community engagement and preserving Historic Clayton's history even if it means diving into 150 year old records to uncover hidden stories.
Edward Marrinan, III
Former involvement with various historic associations in the region, Ed has offered his expertise to help specifically launch the Historic Clayton Association due to his belief in preservation and support for such local organizations.