By 1812Blockhouse
On February 19 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, the industrial story of Mansfield comes into focus at Kingwood Center Gardens.
“Manufacturing That Built Mansfield” connects the elegance of Kingwood with the factories that powered the city’s rise. The program, presented with the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum, ties into America 250-Ohio’s theme, Ohio Works: Innovation & Industry. Admission is $0 for members and $10 for non-members. Advance registration is requested.
The Engineer Behind the Estate
Charles Kelley King, whose name is synonymous with Kingwood, began as the first electrical engineer at the Ohio Brass Company in 1893.
At a time when electricity was reshaping daily life, Ohio Brass expanded into components for streetcars and power grids. By 1906, the company employed about 600 workers. At its peak, roughly 1,100 worked there. Those paychecks built more than products. They built homes, institutions, and eventually Kingwood itself.
From Railroads to Steel
In the mid-1800s, Mansfield was primarily agricultural. Railroads changed that. Manufacturers followed the tracks. Early firms produced suspenders, paper boxes, cigars, and brass goods. Aultman & Taylor, founded in 1866, grew into a national name in farm machinery, employing nearly 900 workers by 1918.
By the early 1900s, Mansfield had become a center for steel, agricultural implements, and electrical products. Mansfield Sheet & Tin Plate helped anchor a steel complex that drew workers from across the country, including Black migrants who settled in neighborhoods like Company Line. Mansfield Tire & Rubber rose in the 1910s, becoming a recognizable national brand before its later decline.
The Appliance Years
From the 1920s through the 1960s, appliances defined Mansfield’s economy.
Westinghouse Electric’s appliance division became the city’s largest employer, with around 8,000 workers at its peak. Tappan Stove Company and Dominion Electric added to the city’s reputation for home products. General Motors’ stamping plant in nearby Ontario reinforced the region’s auto industry ties. Factory life shaped recreation and community as well, from industrial baseball leagues to company-sponsored facilities.
Why It Matters
Mansfield’s identity was forged in workshops, mills, and assembly lines. The gardens at Kingwood stand as a visible reminder of what that industry made possible.
On February 19 at 5:30 PM, that history will be explored in a setting built by it.
