Ohio building with ties to Wright brothers eroding

CINCINNATI — An Ohio structure containing remnants of a building where the Wright brothers rented space for their first bicycle shop has been declared a public nuisance and may eventually be demolished despite residents' efforts to preserve it.

Orville and Wilbur Wright, who became famous for making the first airplane flight on Dec. 17, 1903, sold, built and repaired bicycles in their hometown of Dayton and had several shop locations through the years.

The brothers rented space for their first shop from 1892 to 1893 at the site where a vacant building now stands. The city-owned structure, known as the Gem City Ice Cream Co. building, contains three exterior walls of the building that once housed the brothers' shop.

Dayton officials say they have not been able to rehabilitate the building.