By 1812Blockhouse
Throughout its history, Richland County has produced or been the home to a wide variety of individuals that have made important contributions to the world. We profile these individuals in our Richland Roots series.
Not exactly a household name in 21st century Richland County, Friedrich Schnitzer was much better known 125 years ago.
Schnitzer, son of and father of two other men with the same name, was born in Bavaria and emigrated to America with his parents in 1859, depending on the source. His European home sat on 200 acres, and it was said that the family descended from minor nobility.
Before leaving Bavaria, he was trained in architecture at the University of Berlin. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
If you live in Mansfield, there’s a chance that you might live near a residence that was bought out of a book.
A Sears catalog, to be exact.
With Sears in the news this last week with the impending closure of the store at Richland Mall, we are joining those reflecting back on the long history of that retail chain in Mansfield. One unique connection between the two was in the large number of houses which were purchased from Sears and erected along city streets.
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By 1812Blockhouse
This post first ran in March, 2020. We’re still looking for details!
Timing sometimes comes into play here at 1812Blockhouse. This weekend, the serendipity was startling and a wee bit mysterious.
On Sunday, we ran our latest post in the Landmarks of Mansfield series, this one focusing on the beautiful Mansfield Savings Bank Building at the corner of Fourth and Main. That same afternoon, an 1812 reader — in fact, the sister of the Publisher of 1812Blockhouse — happened to be looking through a box of family photographs which were interspersed with paper “ephemera,” that is, announcements and news clippings and, as it turns out, postcards. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
There are many, many fans of history and period architecture in Richland County.
We know this very well at 1812Blockhouse, as each new entry in our “Landmarks of Mansfield” and “Landmarks of Richland” series see the needle on our readership meter climb and climb.
This summer, those with an interest in the past can go on a bit of an adventure all across the county, as Downtown Mansfield, Inc. and Richland Preservation Action Group have teamed up on a scavenger hunt for history. More…
Architecture, Historic Preservation, Richland County History
By: 1812Blockhouse
A description of the work of Cleveland architect Levi T. Scofield states that there are only ten standing examples of his work.
Two of those structures are right here in Mansfield.
Those working to preserve Scofield’s landmark mansion in Cleveland have just secured the house’s place on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official compendium of properties with significant architectural and/or historic significance. More…
Architecture, Featured, Historic Preservation, ohio state reformatory
All About Richland, History & Tourism
Our recent story on the potential for finding houses in Mansfield which were purchased from Sears, Roebuck & Company generated a good amount of online comment and the sharing of actual house locations. That post can be read here: Hey, I Saw Your House In A Catalog: Sears Houses In Mansfield.
And, as it turns out, these types of houses can be found in many corners of Richland County. More…
Architecture, Featured, Historic Preservation, Richland County History
In October 2016, 1812Blockhouse focused one of the first posts in our “Landmarks of Mansfield” series on the Farmers Bank Building on Park Avenue West. More…
