1812Blockhouse

Honor City: Mansfield, Ohio

8 Nov , 2019

Take a story and audio trip back in time with 1812Blockhouse today when a young girl and her hometown -- Mansfield -- had national attention for an evening. The roots of talent competition TV shows like the popular America’s Got Talent go back to a time before television, to the days of old time radio and a man called Major Bowes. We want to tell you a bit about Major Bowes, his Original Amateur Hour show, and how that show gave Mansfield a moment in the national spotlight 80 years ago. Read More

Featured, Mansfield History, Singers

History & Tourism

When Mansfield Welcomed: President Rutherford B. Hayes

6 Oct , 2019

This past Friday evening, hundreds convened at the corner of Sandusky and William Streets in downtown Delaware for the unveiling of a new statute of the 19^th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes. The statute looks toward the site of his birthplace. As a native son and as someone who kept connection with the city throughout his life, Hayes is a cultural icon in Delaware. Of course, the high school itself is named after the former President. Fremont is where Hayes chose to live as an adult, and the Hayes’ home, Spiegel Grove, stands to this day. It is almost certain that Hayes made several visits to Mansfield and Richland County during his life. Read More

Featured, Mansfield History, When Mansfield Welcomed

History & Tourism

History In South Park: Gallery

6 Oct , 2019

The gathering at the Blockhouse in South Park continues on Sunday from 10 AM until 4 PM. This event is free to the public, and includes tours of the historic Blockhouse and “new” Log Cabin, as well as musket and cannon demonstrations, 18th century cooking, blacksmithing, and bagpipes! The event is presented by Richland Early American Center for History (REACH). Read More

Family Events, Featured, Mansfield History, REACH

History & Tourism

History Says: Be Cautious When Voting For Mayor Of Mansfield

30 Sep , 2019

As you can read in a current post on 1812Blockhouse, tickets are now available for the upcoming debate between the two candidates for Mayor of Mansfield. The current campaign centers on typical early 21^st century concerns for a mid-sized Ohio city, including efforts to boost the local economy, address social needs, and invest in needed infrastructure. While the same types of concerns may have been on voters’ minds 140 years ago, the Mansfield Mayoral campaign of 1879 also featured an apparent fraudster. Read More

Elections, Featured, Mansfield History

History & Tourism, Richland Recollections

Richland Recollections: Sally Huber Lanyon Reflects On The Mansfield Of Her Youth

28 Sep , 2019

With this article, 1812Blockhouse begins a new series, Richland Recollections, that will feature remembrances of Richland County as told by those who lived here. Today’s article features Sally (Huber) Lanyon, who grew up in Mansfield in the 1950s. On Thursday, we featured an article about Sally and her upcoming return for a book signing next week at Main Street Books. She is the co-creator of Brutus Buckeye and co-author of “The Autobiography of Brutus Buckeye: As Told To His Parents.” Sally recently shared the following memories with 1812Blockhouse. It’s a great read! Read More

Featured, Mansfield History

History & Tourism

A Rose By Any Other Name: A Mansfield Landmark Gets A “New” History

27 Sep , 2019

Shakespeare penned, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” conveying the idea that things which are intrinsically beautiful and meaningful could be called anything and still retain their character. Such might be the case this week at the northwest corner of Third and Mulberry Streets in downtown Mansfield. What was long assumed to be the history of the current home of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce has a significant twist, based on brand-new research published on Thursday by the Richland County Historical Society and Oak Hill Cottage. With that information, the Dr. James W. Craig House might properly have a new surname added to its moniker. Read More

Featured, Mansfield History, Richland Area Chamber of Commerce

History & Tourism

Society Invites Guests To Renovated Carriage House

18 Sep , 2019

Take a few moments on Wednesday evening to experience a trip both to the past and to the future. The Richland County Historical Society is welcoming guests to the newly renovated Carriage House, across the street from Oak Hill Cottage. The facility has been transformed and now offers larger meeting space that will assist the Society with meetings and other events for years to come. Read More

Mansfield History, Oak Hill Cottage

History & Tourism

Breweries And Bottlers Of Mansfield Featured In Downtown Exhibit

18 Sep , 2019

Last year’s headlines regarding the almost-forgotten “brewery district” in downtown Mansfield, including in this story in 1812Blockhouse, led to increased interest in the history of local breweries, and at least one man had already been digging into the topic. Scott Schaut, curator of the Mansfield Memorial Museum, has been researching and gathering artifacts for several years. He plans to write a book, and currently features an exhibit titled “Breweries and Bottlers of Mansfield” at the downtown museum. Read More

Breweries and Bottlers, Featured, Mansfield History, Mansfield Memorial Museum

History & Tourism

New South Park Cabin Taking Shape As October Event Nears

17 Sep , 2019

Almost three years of work, and countless hours of labor, are near an end as the “new, old” Cabin in South Park nears its first open house. On Monday morning, concrete was delivered for the base of the porch floors and posts. Open porches on the west and east sides of the structure are currently under construction, each to feature eight foot ceilings. Read More

Featured, Mansfield History, REACH

History & Tourism

When Mansfield Welcomed: The Fisk Jubilee Singers

7 Sep , 2019

Did you know that Mansfield is one of the places where American musical history was made? In fact, it was made over 147 years ago, on November 29, 1871. On that date, a concert took place here featuring a group of singers from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. That institution of learning, founded a few years previously to provide African American students with the best education possible, was struggling in the post-War south and faced bankruptcy. The idea was advanced by Fisk’s treasurer to have a number of students form a choir which would travel to raise funds for the college. Read More

Concerts, Mansfield History, When Mansfield Welcomed

History & Tourism

Mansfield History Glows On A Sunday Afternoon

26 Aug , 2019

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. Read More

Featured, History for Sale, Mansfield History

History & Tourism

Richland Roots: The Tragic Tale Of Beautiful Miss Mansfield

19 Aug , 2019

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. 1812Blockhouse has been sharing their stories in a series we started last year called “Richland Roots.” For other Richland Roots stories, click here. Occasionally, those tales take a tragic turn. During a film shoot in 1923, an aspiring actress suffered a gruesome fate that cut short what may well have been a brilliant career. This actress not only shared her name with the city of Mansfield, but it was the city that was the source of her professional name – Martha Mansfield. Read More

Mansfield History, Richland Roots

History & Tourism

Hey, I Saw Your House In A Catalog: Sears Houses In Mansfield

11 Aug , 2019

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. Read More

Architecture, Featured, Mansfield History, Sears

History & Tourism

When Mansfield Welcomed: Its Very First Automobile Show

24 Jul , 2019

Cars have been on our minds here at 1812Blockhouse, with two feature stories already this week considering automobiles and traffic. In keeping with the theme, we're re-posting a story we ran two years ago on the one hundredth anniversary of a unique community event. The role of the automobile in daily life was a relatively new one on February 24, 1917, the day that Mansfield’s very first automobile show opened its doors. Read More

Automobiles, Mansfield History, When Mansfield Welcomed

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