By 1812Blockhouse
If you are familiar with the memorials that dot Central Park in downtown Mansfield, then you already know that one of those monuments honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for whom this Monday is a national holiday in which we celebrate his importance and his legacy.
The monument to Dr. King was a labor of love that began well over 20 years ago, with the 1999 formation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Committee. The group was created between 1998 and 1999, after failed attempts to persuade the City to memorialize King by, for example, renaming a section of U.S. Route 30 in his honor. More…
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Mansfield History, Monuments
By 1812Blockhouse
While doing other research last year, 1812Blockhouse discovered a coincidence about Bromfield’s life which connects his early years in Mansfield with his later success as an author. When we posted it, we were not aware if this story had been previously known.
As historians note, Louis Bromfield’s father and grandfather spelled their surname as “Brumfield,” with the father making the change to render the family name more “distinguished.” Louis was born in 1896 in Mansfield, and was a student in Mansfield schools.
More…Featured, Louis Bromfield, Mansfield History, Richland Roots
By: 1812Blockhouse
It’s the latest in our “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About” series — today we look at Mansfield Cemetery, which sits in the city of Mansfield a bit south and east of downtown.
For other entries in this series, click here. More…
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Mansfield History
By 1812Blockhouse
This was the first post in our series which looks at the ways in which Mansfielders, past and present, have been involved with books, poetry, music, and other written works. We’ve been calling this series, “Literary Mansfield.”
Our first subject back in 2017 was a resident of Mansfield for some, but not all, of his long life. The saga of Salathiel Coffinberry began in Lancaster, Ohio in 1809; he was the son of that city’s first newspaper editor.
We have added information since then to this narrative to more completely describe this remarkable man.
By 1812Blockhouse
Richland County has produced or been the home to a wide variety of individuals that have made important contributions to the world. 1812Blockhouse has been sharing their stories in a series called “Richland Roots.” For other Richland Roots stories, click here.
There are children who you would imagine will live or have lived interesting lives because of their names. Blessed with obviously creative parents, they set out on journeys that take them to places as unique as their monikers.
Such is the case with a set of children born in Richland County in the first half of the nineteenth century, the Poppletons. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
10,000 pounds of beef is a lot of cow!
That is what’s on offer this year at the 56th Annual Fireman’s Ox Roast in Shiloh, an event that will look quite a bit like it has in years past — and which will taste just as good!
A full lineup of food will be on hand, including sales of beef, baked beans, potato salad, hot dogs, cake, and pie — and other food vendors will be on hand as well.
The fun will take place on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30. Bulk sales of meat, baked beans, and potato salad will take place at the fire station on Delaware Street. Food will be served from 11 AM to 9 PM each day.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse, Special to 1812Blockhouse from ODNR
This year we’re continuing our weekly look at unique events and attractions that are within an easy driving distance of Delaware County. For the first time in two years, we’re sharing events taking place in-person, although by all means please all ahead and verify what social distancing, masking, etc. We call these Summer Road Trips.
Of course, we regularly feature the many extraordinary places to visit right here in Delaware County and encourage our readers to get out and experience what is on offer in our own backyard.
Some days ago we posted about the upcoming Ohio State Fair. There’s more to that story this year.
More…Featured, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Fair, Summer Road Trips
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…
NOTE: The following post appeared in August 2019, showcasing photos from a visit to St. Matthew Lutheran Church. This week (July 2022), one of those photographs was featured in the “Vintage American Stained Glass” Facebook Group, where it was potentially seen by up to 6,600 members. Work is still progressing on the building, so we thought we would re-introduce you to this beautiful space.
By 1812Blockhouse
As the real estate agent handed out flashlights to those entering the venerable St. Matthew Lutheran Church building on Sunday afternoon, he shared words of admiration for those who built the structure and the craftsmanship inside.
Entering the front door, one takes a short flight of stairs to immediately arrive in what can only be described as a breathtaking sanctuary. Light streamed through stained glass windows, including the large west window which features a scene with shepherds and a descending angel with a background of rich blues and greens.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
When the clock struck midnight ushering in 2022, thousands of works entered into the public domain, shorn of copyright.
This year, that included the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel by local author Louis Bromfield. Early Autumn was published in 1926, and won the coveted Pulitzer the next year.
Bromfield was in good company in the 1920s in winning this prestigious award. The year before, the Pultizer for Best Novel went to Sinclair Lewis; the year following, Thornton Wilder won the award.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The folks at The Sherman Room at the Main Branch of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library have placed several new images online.
What is different than usual is that these photos are not from prints or slides, rather they are images obtained from glass plate negatives, a photographic technique used from the Civil War era through the early years of the 20th century.
These plates are much different than the thin film negatives that 35mm camera users might be familiar with; they are exactly as described – a negative printed on a glass plate. The plates came in “wet” and “dry” versions, the difference being whether or not the emulsion applied to the glass was wet when placed into a camera.
More…Featured, Photography, Richland County History, Sherman Room
NOTE: The story, first published in 2018, has been updated with newly-discovered information about this groundbreaking concert. See below.
By: 1812Blockhouse
Did you know that Mansfield is one of the places where American musical history was made?
In fact, it was made over 148 years ago, on November 29, 1871. More…
Concerts, Featured, Mansfield History, When Mansfield Welcomed
By 1812Blockhouse
This year we’re continuing our weekly look at unique events and attractions that are within an easy driving distance of Richland County. For the first time in two years, we’re sharing events taking place in-person, although by all means please all ahead and verify what social distancing, masking, etc. We call these Summer Road Trips.
Of course, we regularly feature the many extraordinary places to visit right here in Richland County and encourage our readers to get out and experience what is on offer in our own backyard.
It might just be the ultimate Summer Road Trip each year – and in 2022, it is time to rediscover the Ohio State Fair, a family tradition in Ohio for the last 172 years.
More…Fairs and Festivals, Family Fun, Featured, The Ohio State Fair
By 1812Blockhouse
The Mechanics Bank Building, somewhat recently restored and expanded on the corner of South Main Street and Park Avenue West, is a landmark that has occupied an important corner in Mansfield history since its construction in 1926.
In the early years of the city, that corner was occupied by a two story brick residence owned by Robert Bowland. Bowland’s son was involved in one of the most notorious crimes in early Richland County history, an event chronicled in “Two Sons: The Bowland-Barker Murder” by Alan Wigton (available at Amazon.com; see link below). More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Richland County has produced or been the home to a wide variety of individuals that have made important contributions to local, state, or national history. 1812Blockhouse has been sharing their stories in a series called “Richland Roots.” This is a brand new post; for other Richland Roots stories, click here.
Today on 1812Blockhouse we look at the remarkable life of a local man whose life took many twists and turns.
His name was John Whitnah Leedy, and he was born near Bellville on March 8, 1849. His paternal grandfather John Leedy had come to southern Richland County about 1815; his father Samuel Leedy was known as a singer and tavern keeper. More…
