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Wright Brothers' Home Comes Back to the Wright Family, Thanks to NCR; Historic Hawthorn Hill Under NCR's Care Since 1948
Wright Brothers' Home Comes Back to the Wright Family, Thanks to NCR; Historic Hawthorn Hill Under NCR's Care Since 1948
Published 08-18-06
Submitted by NCR Corporation
DAYTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2006--In recognition of Orville Wright's 135th birthday and National Aviation Day, NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR) announced today that it is donating Hawthorn Hill, the historic home built in Dayton for the Wright brothers, to the Wright Family Foundation, an affiliate of The Dayton Foundation. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991 by the National Park Service.
NCR purchased Hawthorn Hill in 1948 after the house was put up for sale following Orville Wright's death that year, and preserved the home and its historic artifacts throughout its 58-year ownership.
"While this beautiful 1914-era mansion is architecturally significant, the glory of Hawthorn Hill is in how it helps portray the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright, and their contributions to aviation - which are of international significance," said Bill Nuti, president and chief executive officer of NCR. "NCR has been a caretaker of this national treasure for over half a century, but we believe the time is right for Hawthorn Hill to come back to the Wright family. They are passionate about sharing the story of the Wright brothers, their dream of flight and how their accomplishments established Ohio as the birthplace of aviation."
The Wright brothers and Dayton are inextricably linked and evidence of this is found throughout the area. They built and tested their aircraft inventions at locations that include what is now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The community has developed an aviation heritage infrastructure, including the Aviation Trail, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the National Aviation Heritage Area. In 2003, the 100th anniversary of flight was celebrated in Dayton with Senator John Glenn, Dr. Neil Armstrong, the Tuskegee Airmen, historians, educators, scientists, pilots, celebrities and the broader public.
"We are immensely grateful for this donation as it is through NCR's efforts that the house is in the impeccable condition it is today," said Amanda Wright Lane, great-grandniece of Orville Wright. "Our immediate plans are to make the transition as seamless as possible so the home can continue to be maintained and preserved with the same care that NCR has provided for close to six decades."
"The Wright family has worked hard to promote our local aviation heritage. The gift of Hawthorn Hill from NCR will allow the Wright Family Foundation to continue to promote Dayton's aviation legacy and the great Wright brothers' story," said Congressman Michael R. Turner, Ohio 3rd District.
Hawthorn Hill, which incorporates Orville Wright's affinity for inventive gadgetry, hosted many dignitaries, including Charles Lindbergh in June 1927 following his historic flight from New York to Paris that year. Other dignitaries and inventors who were guests of the Wrights at Hawthorn Hill include Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison.
"The Dayton Foundation is pleased to be able to help The Wright Family Foundation accept this exceptional gift from NCR," said Michael Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation. "We all are so grateful to NCR for their care of Hawthorn Hill over the years and for this unprecedented donation. This is a wonderful moment for history."
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE:NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's Teradata(R) data warehouses, ATMs, retail systems, self-service solutions and IT services provide Relationship Technology(TM) that maximizes the value of customer interactions and helps organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton, Ohio, NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 29,300 people worldwide.
About The Wright Family Foundation
The Wright Family Foundation supports the preservation of aviation history related to Orville and Wilbur Wright by funding research and publication of aviation history, scholarships for studies in the fields of aviation and aeronautics, educational programming, the restoration and display of aviation artifacts, and landmarks and memorials related to the Wright brothers' story. Established at The Dayton Foundation by Wilkinson Wright, the Wright brothers' grandnephew, the fund today is advised by Stephen Wright and Amanda Wright Lane, great-grandnephew and great-grandniece respectively.
About The Dayton Foundation
The Dayton Foundation, established in 1921, is the regional community foundation that serves the multicounty Greater Miami Valley. The foundation assists the region by helping donors find the best and most tax-wise ways to achieve their charitable objectives, investing and managing donors' charitable funds, and providing grants and leadership to grow philanthropy and help meet present and future community needs.
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