The air is charged with excitement as Chaminade Julienne announces an exciting milestone full of promise and potential. The next chapter in CJ’s journey is beginning to unfold – one that sees CJ’s mission continuing to take root in the heart of downtown Dayton.
Through the continuing generous support of the CJ community, we are proud to announce the acquisition of 20-60 Eaker Street, the former Terminal Cold Storage/Dayton Frozen Solutions building, an iconic landmark known fondly by many decades of alumni and the Dayton community as “The Ice House.” This marks a significant leap forward for Chaminade Julienne’s mission, vision, and future.
“This is exciting news for our campus and our mission.,” said Dan Meixner, president. “The acquisition of 20-60 Eaker Street opens new opportunities to enhance the educational experience of the students and families we serve in the years to come.”
To better serve students, CJ continues to look for opportunities to expand campus. This acquisition, just north of Emmanuel Church – the oldest Catholic church in Dayton – adds a fresh dimension, expanding the CJ footprint from 18.5 acres to nearly 20 acres and places Emmanuel Church, where CJ students regularly worship, at the center of campus. This acquisition will open doors to new teaching and learning spaces that will shape the experiences of students for generations to come.
“Immediately, this acquisition helps secure the north east side of our campus and provides space and square footage to allow us to dream about what the future of CJ could look like,” said John Marshall, director of development.
This acquisition comes 50 years after the joining of CJ’s founding school’s, Chaminade High School, owned and operated by The Marianists and Julienne High School, owned and operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The 1973-1974 school year opened the doors of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School on the corner of Franklin and Ludlow Street. This location was home for the Sisters starting in 1849, then purchased by the Marianists in 1927 when the Sisters moved to the Five Oaks neighborhood. Fifty years after the schools came together, the CJ campus is set to expand yet again due to the forward thinking decisions of our predecessors.
“Fifty years ago, our predecessors made decisions for the future of CJ that has gotten us to this point and continues to fuel us,” said John Marshall. “Today, we see the fruits of those decisions being further realized with the purchase of the Eaker Street property. We continue to remain forward thinking, just as our predecessors did, to set up the school for future generations to come.”
Given the nature of its construction and intended use, the building will not be repurposed for CJ’s use, but instead will be demolished as soon as funding is available to make space for many possibilities and opportunities.
“We are excited for the opportunity to remove the current structure, improve the neighborhood, and more fully embrace Emmanuel Church as the center of our campus,” said Dan Meixner.
We look forward to continuing the journey that lies ahead. As we dismantle the old and construct the new, we’re embracing change, progress, and the future. Together, we will continue to build upon the CJ legacy that will span the next 50 years and beyond.