By Ruth Corradi Beach
Beyond its county seat, Richland County is a land rich in small communities. From rural to suburban, each town has its own personality and attractions worth a day trip.
Slow down and enjoy the beauty of the countryside by visiting the villages of Lucas, Plymouth and Shiloh, and the charming community of Olivesburg. Here you’ll find an old-school general store, museums celebrating local history and quaint bed & breakfasts.
Nestled in the rolling hills of southeast Richland County, Butler attracts outdoor enthusiasts. This town marks the start of the Richland B & O Trail, perfect for bikers and walkers. Dive deeper into nature on the Clear Fork Valley Scenic Trail as you hike through an old-growth forest, past prairies and waterfalls. Kick back at The Whiffletree Restaurant or stroll up to the counter at Five Points Drive-In for shakes, floats and more summer favorites.
More…Destination Mansfield - Richland County, Retail, Richland County Downtowns
Special to 1812Blockhouse
You may have noticed a lot of activity taking place at 175 West Third Street, home of the new Little Buckeye Children’s Museum.
The building, located between the Renaissance Performing Arts Association’s Theatre 166 and the Dollar General, has been undergoing many changes in the last six months including a repaved parking lot and a new entrance off of West Third Street.
The project, which is part of the Imagination District, originally started construction pre-COVID in January of 2020.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
For the last 100 years, the 125 feet high towers of the landmark St. Peter’s Catholic Church have themselves done double duty, standing sentinel over the central part of Mansfield while at the same time encouraging passers-by to look in a heavenly direction.
The building sits near an intersection that has been home to a Catholic church and school for almost seventeen decades. The first local mass was celebrated in 1850, and the first church, purchased from the Presbyterians, was located on Mulberry Street just north of the current elementary school. More…
Churches, Landmarks, Landmarks of Mansfield, Mansfield St. Peter's
By 1812Blockhouse
John Philip Sousa was a musician whose reputation remains strong almost a century after his death.
The scene must have been extraordinary that late October evening in 1892, over 125 years ago, when Sousa came to town. The venue was the brand-new Memorial Opera House, a 565 seat auditorium situated in what was later the site of the Madison Theatre, and is now the parking lot of the Solders and Sailors Memorial Building on Park Avenue West. More…
From our friends at Downtown Mansfield, Inc.:
Downtown Mansfield, Inc. is excited to present the 2020 edition of Monsterfield Masquerade in historic downtown Mansfield! Monsterfield Masquerade will take place on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 AM.
This year’s Halloween fun will include only downtown Trick or Treat, per the Richland County Health Department we are unable to have the parade.
Trick or Treat will take place throughout downtown beginning at 11:00 AM with lots of downtown merchants participating. Event maps with participating merchant locations are available online at facebook.com/downtownmansfield or www.shopdineexploreandmore.com.
Downtown Mansfield Incorporated’s mission is to stimulate economic development, improve the appearance and create a positive image of the downtown as a desirable place to work, live, shop and invest.
By 1812Blockhouse
It sits now as it originally did, anchoring Central Park and providing a pleasant oasis of sight and sound.
The Vasbinder Fountain is a Mansfield landmark of the first order. Dedicated on July 4, 1881, it was removed in the late 1950s during the creation of the then-controversial Park Avenue cut-through, and after storage and a temporary placement at Malabar Farm, it was returned to Central Park in 1979. The move took place after community outcry following announced plans to move the fountain to a neighborhood revitalization program in Springfield, Ohio.
As a commemorative plate shares, the fountain was donated by David and Jane Vasbinder. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
First English Lutheran Church is a stunning survivor.
Stunning, as the structure at 53 Park Avenue West was built at a time when Victorian opulence was at its peak, and no expense was spared in its construction.
A survivor, in that it remains one of the only remaining large downtown churches that still houses its original congregation. More…
Join 1812Blockhouse as we look back at a photo stroll we took a couple of years ago through downtown Mansfield. Click on the photo below to access. More…
The tables at Downtown Mansfield, Inc. were filled on Friday afternoon with gift boxes for local fathers. Pickup for ordered boxes is today from 4 PM until 7 PM at DMI, 128 North Main Street.
Water main repairs have necessitated the closure of a section of North Main Street in downtown Mansfield.
On Monday, the City of Mansfield closed North Main Street from Fourth Street to North Park Street.
The road is closed now and will remain closed until further notice.ww More…
Mansfielders, do you have out-of-town visitors coming this December who are going to expect a tour of our downtown or other areas of the city? If you really want to impress friends and family this holiday season, check out the interactive history map hosted by Downtown Mansfield, Inc. (DMI) to learn all about the landmarks in the downtown area, as well as a few non-downtown but still significant locations. More…
If you still need to purchase gifts for the holidays, look no further than local Richland County businesses. This is not just a way to find the perfect gift, but also to support your local economy. There are far too many businesses and services to include all of them, but here are a few of our favorites: More…
Two guests will be visiting downtown Mansfield on Friday night.
Who are they? Here’s a hint – one of them will be wearing red and white and the other has been known to wear a crown.
December 6 is not only the monthly First Friday Shop Hop in downtown Mansfield, it’s also the official kickoff to the holiday season. This annual community gathering is full of holiday fun and spirit. More…
Those who have participated in the Secret City Tour in downtown Mansfield may remember having toured four dark, dirty and – in some areas – junk-filled upstairs apartments that had not been lived in for several decades. Over the course of the last two years, the apartments at 46 Park Avenue West have been emptied out, renovated, and are now ready for new life as high-end downtown apartments that overlook that street. All of this is thanks to new building owners who had a vision for the apartments, as well as the downstairs retail space. More…
Steve Goble will be at Main Street Books in Mansfield on November 15 at 6:00 PM to discuss the third book in his Spider John pirate mystery series, A Bottle of Rum.
The book, which was listed on CrimeReads.com’s Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2019, centers on an eighteenth-century pirate who is regularly wrapped up in mysteries and crimes. More…
Authors and Poets, Downtown Mansfield, Featured, Main Street Books
