About Me: Hannah Kratofil
Hello! My name is Hannah Kratofil, and I am a senior at UD double majoring in History and Political Science. I will also be graduating with a certificate in Nonprofit Community Leadership. I’m originally from Youngstown, Ohio, but I currently live in Columbus. I am a Dayton Civic Scholar and an intern at UD’s Human Rights Center. After I graduate, I want to move to DC and work for an international development NGO.
Outside of class, I can be found painting along to Bob Ross, continuing my fourth re-read of the Percy Jackson series, or watching hockey (though not all at the same time). I also enjoy playing Super Smash Bros (though I’m not very good at it), listening to Bruce Springsteen, and watching my favorite movie, Apollo 13.
For my topical history, I researched the historical phenomenon of arcades. From their development in late-eighteenth century France to the renovation efforts of the present day, I follow arcades through history as they adapt and transform as a result of economic and social forces. Arcades represented a dynamic new way of selling mass-produced goods, becoming palaces of consumption that were perfectly suited to handle the emerging culture of consumerism. The same social and economic forces that were shaping Paris and London in the nineteenth century were shaping Dayton in the twentieth century, generating the need for an arcade. The Arcade’s original owners, Eugene Barney and Michael Gibbons, sought to make the Dayton Arcade a shopping mecca, and for decades it was both a cultural icon and a commercial boon for the city. However, as consumerism and production continued to evolve, arcades could no longer meet the needs of consumers. In the 60s and 70s, arcades, the Dayton Arcade included, would yield to the department stores and eventually shopping malls that could better cater to consumers. Arcades became the sellers of luxury, marketing high-end products to those in society that could afford them. The Dayton Arcade is in the midst of its revival, although it is taking a different path than most arcades, choosing to become an hub of innovation and space for academics and art. Time will tell whether the Dayton Arcade can reclaim its former glory, once again becoming the heart of the city.
Postcard showing the Third Street entrance to the Arcade. Courtesy of the Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, OH. Dayton Post Card Collection, Dayton.
