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
A building with a rich past and an unknown future, the Mansfield Savings Bank Building sits majestically on the northwest corner of North Main and West Fourth Streets, anchoring the Carousel District and serving as a backdrop for civic festivals and events.
For those who visit, the inside of the building matches the extraordinary presence of the exterior. More…
Featured, Landmarks, Landmarks of Mansfield, Mansfield History
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…
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
All About Richland, History & Tourism
By 1812Blockhouse
It’s a name you may not have seen before until reading this post.
The man was, however, a remarkable artist with a penchant for showmanship that transformed him into an international superstar — a superstar whose travels and concert venues included a very young Mansfield, Ohio.
An obscure reference in the Cleveland Daily Leader references the appearance of famed composer and pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk to Mansfield in December of 1863, in the middle of the US Civil War.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
This story is a favorite of ours, and one which have previously published on Independence Day weekend.
A century and a half ago, local media writers were bemoaning the lack of activities scheduled in Mansfield to celebrate Independence Day, with one exception: a “Base Ball” game between the “fats” and the “lanks.”
This is from the weekly Mansfield Herald’s edition on July 3, 1867:
“The Fourth of July tomorrow will not be celebrated in any formal manner in Mansfield. We are sorry to say it, for many other places of less pretensions than our city, have made arrangement for a good old fashioned time. Ashland, Bucyrus, Bellfontaine and other towns have announcements out of what they intend to do, and many of our citizens will not doubt visit one of the other of these places… More…
By 1812Blockhouse
It’s entirely possible that Governor Mike DeWine and Nan Whaley have run into each other during the current campaign for Ohio Governor.
Almost 112 years ago, however, politicians from differing parties may not have had many opportunities to have conversations while running for the same elective office. Such was the case, however, when two men’s paths crossed on a downtown Mansfield street corner in the early fall of 1910.
On September 24 of that year, Warren G. Harding of Marion, a former Lieutenant Governor and future President of the United States, arrived in Mansfield to engage in a series of meetings and speeches concerning his candidacy as the Republican nominee to Governor of Ohio.
More…Elections, Featured, Mansfield History, Visitors To Mansfield
All About Richland, History & Tourism
By 1812Blockhouse
Throughout the last 231 years, there have undoubtedly been scores of Richland County men and women who have attended US presidential inaugurations. Not many of them, however, have written about the experience and provided an account of what they saw and heard.
One such person was Robert Wesley McBride, who had a close-up seat at the second inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln. McBride, who had been born in 1842 southeast of Mansfield, enlisted in the Ohio 7th Cavalry, otherwise known as the “Union Light Guard.” That unit soon served as a bodyguard for the President and mounted escort. More…
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. 1812Blockhouse has been sharing their stories in a series we call “Richland Roots.” For other Richland Roots stories, click here.
A woman referred to as one of the leading American businesspersons of the early 20th century received her own start in pre-Civil War Mansfield. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
On February 21, 1940, the Federal Communications Commission authorized radio station WMAN to expand its broadcasting from daylight hours to a 6 AM to Midnight schedule.
Eight decades later, the station is still going strong.
Today, we share “Everything You Always Wanted To Know” about Mansfield’s long-time news and sports source at 1400 AM: More…
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Local Media, Mansfield History
By 1812Blockhouse
Early in May, 1894, newspapers across the country, from Maine to California, carried a small news item originating in Mansfield, Ohio.
The brief post shared news of a tornado which struck here a few days before, leaving destruction in its wake and downed power lines everywhere.
Sound familiar?
On the evening of Saturday, April 28, the skies started to glow yellow in the northwest, suggesting that something significant was coming weather-wise. At about 7:00 PM, the storm hit with its full force striking the north part of the city.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Through a partnership with the Cleveland Memory Project, an online location for thousands of Cleveland area photographs sponsored by the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, the Mansfield Richland County Public Library has set out to connect Mansfielders with their past.
To that end, the MRCPL is in the process of uploading over 1,000 images housed in the Library’s Sherman Room. The project is an ongoing one, although many have already been added to the site. The main page of the MRCPL Collection can be accessed by clicking here. From that page, the entire local collection can be searched or browsed.
More…
By 1812Blockhouse
There are a handful of structures standing in Mansfield today that very much “connect the dots.” These buildings tie important eras in the city’s history together, serving therefore as important landmarks that continue to inform and inspire.
One such building sits at 145 Park Avenue West, known locally as The Women’s Club. More…
