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 started last year called “Richland Roots.” For other Richland Roots stories, click here.
Few we have profiled in this series have held the variety of positions that the subject of today’s profile held during his lifetime. Edmund Burke Fairfield was a minister, a politician, a writer, a university executive, and a member of the United States diplomatic corps.
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By 1812Blockhouse
In 1895, a possible conversation between two Mansfielders could have gone like this:
Frannie: “Where should we meet to go to the party?”
Edwin: We can walk. Let’s meet at the corner of Sugar and Bloom at 7:30 Friday night.”
That corner very much exists in 2022 – but do you know where it is? (See link below)
Sugar Street is the original name for what later became known as Franklin Street, then Avenue in downtown Mansfield.
There is no indication of how the name “Sugar” came to be, although there are other nearby communities of comparable age that have streets by that name, such as Mount Vernon. Through the middle of town, it is part of the original platted area of Mansfield. To the north, part of the original street has been lost to development, such as the current post office facility.
More…Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Featured, Mansfield History, Streets
Special to 1812Blockhouse
Holidays and history are have combined at Mansfield’s venerable Oak Hill Cottage.
Sunday tours continue through December 18 on the usual schedule; 2 PM to 5 PM. New
this year are two evening “Gaslight Tours” on December 9 and 16, which begin promptly
at 7 PM. An additional 7:30 PM tour will be added if needed.
Leave a message at 419-524-1765 to make a reservation for these evening tours.
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By 1812Blockhouse
In Ohio, a “boulevard” typically refers to a street which has been enhanced by the addition of greenery or flowers, one which often boasts a central grassy lawn between two sets of houses with large setbacks. In Mansfield, say the word “Boulevard,” or more particularly “Boulevards,” and thoughts immediate go to the area of town immediately to the east of South Park.
Today, we’re sharing details of The Boulevards, an area of 100-plus-year-old homes that is protected by the City of Mansfield through its historic preservation ordinance.
More…City of Mansfield, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Mansfield History
By 1812Blockhouse
Here at 1812Blockhouse, we enjoy stepping back in time to try to get a feel for the Richland County of long ago.
So this holiday, join us for a trip through Thanksgivings past.
By the way — we are taking tomorrow off to spend quality and quantity times with our families. We will se you bright and early on Friday.
More…Featured, Mansfield History, Richland County History, Thanksgiving
By 1812Blockhouse.
A bit over one hundred years ago, women voted in a US Presidential election for the first time.
The road to the point was a long and difficult one. Some of the leading proponents of women’s suffrage are now well-known names from history — Susan B. Anthony in the United States, Emmeline Pankrust in England, and others.
One activist for women’s suffrage was certainly just as vocal and, at an important point in her crusade, was a visitor to Mansfield.
It was in July, 1912 when Rosalie Gardner Jones and her friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Freeman, made it to Richland County. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Glessner Avenue was named in honor of a Mansfield newspaper man who was a towering local figure in local business and civic affairs.
His name was John Y. Glessner.
Glessner was originally from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, which is where he started in the media business when he and his brother purchased a local paper. Moving first to St. Clairsville in southeast Ohio and then to Columbus, Glessner came to Mansfield in 1841.
From that time until his death in 1882, he owned and published the Richland County Shield and Banner. More…
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About, Mansfield History
By 1812Blockhouse
Shortly before his death in 1909, a husband, a Mansfield native, and wife from Chicago boarded a train and headed south, their destination a relatively new place of higher education in rural Alabama. The couple was no stranger to southern life, having spent years living in Arkansas some three decades before. On this occasion, however, the man was leaving behind a set of business difficulties and accepting a position which had been offered to him by a long-time friend. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Over the last four years, 1812Blockhouse shared over 50 posts in our Landmarks of Mansfield and Landmarks of Richland County series. We have enjoyed focusing on pieces of local history which continue to provide context, a sense of place, and useful space in the early 21st century.
Of course, many pieces of history which could have been preserved have been lost.
One true survivor is a former residence which represents one of the oldest buildings in downtown Mansfield. It sits proudly but somewhat forlornly on the south side of West Fourth Street west of Mulberry Street. When it was built, it would have been one of the largest buildings in town. Today, it presents a remarkable opportunity to preserve a bit of pre-Civil War Mansfield.
We are continuing to doresearch so that we can present a more thorough Landmark of Mansfield post in the future about the house at 103 West Fourth Street. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
It is said that the winter of 1867-1868 was a uniformly cold one, though a late season snowstorm wreaked havoc on the eastern part of the country.
It was during that winter that a man arrived in Mansfield and checked in at the Wiler House hotel. The establishment was frequented by travelers arriving via coach in the city. It had been established about 1820 at the corner of North Main Street and Dickson Avenue, not far from the current Richland Carrousel Park.
When registering, the man put down the name “Ralph Waldo Emerson” in the guest registry. From that time on, it has been claimed that that man was THE famous lecturer, essayist, and poet, perhaps best known for development of the philosophy of transcendentalism. More about his rich life and career can be found here.
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