By 1812Blockhouse
We’re talking about the hills of Richland County, of course, and in particular the streams near the villages of Bellville and Butler.
This part of the county has been attracting would-be treasure hunters yearning for instant fortune now for over 165 years.
Bellville was where it all started. The village’s first mayor, Dr. James C. Lee, himself a veteran of the California Gold Rush, discovered flakes in a south flowing tributary of the Clear Fork River known as “Deadman’s Run” or “Dead Man’s Run” (there’s a story about how that name was obtained which involves, of course, a drowning). More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
Did you know that one of the oldest continually operated firehouses in the country is right here in Richland County?
The 1872 Historic Engine House on Main Street in downtown Shelby is a survivor. The second oldest of its kind in Ohio, it anchors one corner of the Shelby Center Historic District, which itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As the Independent News shared in July, 1872, Shelby City Council purchased “…one of Button’s first class Hand Fire Engines, two Hose Carts, and one thousand feet of Hose” to outfit the building and fire department. The advertisement for contractors later that year called for a brick building 30 by 45 feet in size with a tin roof. The fire engine cost $1,700, the building itself cost $4,000, and the entire expense came in at $10,000. More…
Featured, Landmarks of Shelby, Richland County History, Shelby
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 Staff
Richland County and John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, were well acquainted back in the day.
He lived here, owned land here, and planted apple trees and orchards here through much of his adult life. Mansfield has long claimed Johnny as one of its own. And, of course, the Johnny Appleseed Historic Byway runs through the area.
On several occasions, we have shared stories focusing on some aspect of his connection to the area, as well as posts talking about those who promote his legacy today. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
A bit over 120 years ago, a man with strong local roots occupied the position of Mayor of New York City. He was a reformer and set out to improve a corrupt system, a task which did not result in success.
His name was William Lafayette Strong.
1812Blockhouse shares posts in our “Richland Roots” series to reveal stories of the less-commonly known people born here, or who lived here, and then went on to make significant contributions to state, regional, or national history. Other posts in the series are available here. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
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 called “Richland Roots.” This is a brand new post; for other Richland Roots stories, click here.
There are children who you would imagine will live or have lived interesting lives because of their names. Blessed with obviously creative parents, they set out on journeys that take them to places as unique as their monikers.
Such is the case with a set of children born in Richland County in the first half of the nineteenth century, the Poppletons. More…
Bellville, Featured, Richland County History, Richland Roots
1812Blockhouse, History & Tourism
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
We’re celebrating a bit here at 1812Blockhouse by unveiling our new Richland History section.
As we have previously shared, Richland History is a compendium of links and resources to a wide array of information. Not only will it contain an index to our two landmarks series, which contain almost 50 entries, but it does the same for our “When Mansfield Welcomed,” “Richland Roots,” and other series.
There’s much more on offer. Would you like to read a Mansfield newspaper from, say, 1878? Now you can easily locate it. More…
1812Blockhouse, Featured, Mansfield History, Richland County History
1812Blockhouse, History & Tourism
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
As we shared in our post on Sunday introducing the latest in our Landmarks of Richland, the beautiful Greenlawn Cemetery Chapel in Plymouth, this past weekend would have seen multiple Richland County historic sites and attractions open to the public for the annual RichHistory Weekend.
Today and tomorrow, we are continuing to recognize those sites by sharing stories that focus on the shared heritage enjoyed by residents of this county.
We’re particularly thrilled today to share with you news of a new resource on 1812Blockhouse that has been in the works for some time. Originally developed as an “add on” feature for a new membership program, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the difficult situation in which local museums and tourism destinations find themselves have prompted us to open this up freely to 1812Blockhouse visitors. More…
1812Blockhouse, Featured, Mansfield History, Richland County History
All About Richland, History & Tourism
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
He is well-known locally, to be sure. Nationally, and internationally, however, he is less of a household name.
That may change somewhat in the coming months.
Mansfield and Pleasant Valley’s Louis Bromfield is rushing back into the spotlight with the April 14 publication of what has been called the first major biography of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist. The 325 page work entitled “The Planter of Modern Life: Louis Bromfield and the Seeds of a Food Revolution” is a true page turner, according to reviews shared by Publishers Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, and on the website of its publisher, W.W. Norton & Company. More…
Authors, Featured, Louis Bromfield, Malabar Farm, Richland County 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.
As the country moves toward the centennial of women first voting in a presidential election, we profile a native Richland Countian who contribute in her own unique way to achieving that end. Unfortunately, she never saw the fruits of her work, dying at the young age of 40. More…
The Buckeye Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA), headquarterd near Bellville, are taking center stage as they join other chapters in hosting the GPAA Gold and Treasure Show this May at the Ohio State Fairgrounds and Expo Center.
As we have shared previously on 1812Blockhouse, the lure of gold has brought folks to Richland County for over 160 years. It continues to do so, and the Bellville area serves as the center of Ohio prospecting activity. More…
It is apparent that the architect of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Shelby took particular pride in this building.
After all, while the church was being built in the decade before the Great Depression, Toledo architect William R. Dowling actually moved his family to Shelby, living at 216 West Main Street for two to three years. More…
We’re continuing our look at the life and work of native Richland Countian Stanley J. Morrow, who was born near Bellville in 1843 and who was trained by famed Civil War photographer Mathew Brady.
Stanley Morrow’s studio in Yankton, Dakota Territory did well. So well, in fact, that Morrow soon opened a branch operation across the Missouri River in Nebraska. Still, he had a sense of adventure, perhaps cultivated in his Civil War experience. Over time, that sense led him to leave the family home and studio and travel westward; each time, he left his wife in charge of the local operation which continued to thrive. More…
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. Among those is a man who learned his trade under extraordinary circumstances, and then used that training to create an important record that survives to this day.
Born near Bellville in 1843, Stanley J. Morrow’s childhood years were contemporaneous with the rise of photography in the United States. More…
