David S. Dana was the designer, builder and first owner of the Ridge Line Lodge and Dalton Ridge. We wish we had had the opportunity to meet him because it seems he must have been a very interesting, industrious and much loved individual.
Mr. Dana studied industrial engineering and business at MIT and Columbia. He started his career in the family business, an automotive power train system manufacturer in Toledo, Ohio. According to the local paper, he lived all over the United States and travelled extensively throughout the world, but in the early 70’s he decided to make Dalton Ridge his permanent home.
It seems everyone in town has a warm story about him.
He was such a great dad. We all loved him. He was just so much fun. He was a very optimistic person. He always looked for a reason to celebrate. And always looked for just something to feel grateful for. He really instilled that in all of us to be grateful everyday, not just in a general way, but very specific in a daily basis about what is good and positive in your life and to celebrate it… His family meant the world to him. In spite of the fact that we didn’t all live together, he worked very hard to keep us connected to each other. He did a wonderful job at that…”
His daughter
Even though we did not know him, we try to keep his spirit alive at the Ridge Line Lodge.
