From our friends at Destination Mansfield, with links from 1812Blockhouse:
The Village of Plymouth is one of the oldest communities in Richland County.
A bit of an anomaly, the community of settlers sprang up along a military road and former Wyandot trail, now Ohio 603, in the early 1800s and grew into a village before Ohio’s official county lines were determined. When Richland County’s northern border was drawn along the Forty-First Parallel, the village which was then called Paris, was split between Richland and Huron counties. It was at this time in 1838, that Paris and rechartered as Plymouth. More…
Destination Mansfield - Richland County, Featured, Richland County History
By: 1812Blockhouse
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
Preservation Ohio has issued its annual Call for Nominations for its list of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites.
Each year, the statewide organization searches for houses, commercial buildings, governmental structures, bridges, historic roadways, landscapes, downtowns, neighborhoods and other important pieces of Ohio history that face a potentially risky future. The list serves to highlight those properties which are both historically significant and endangered — whether it be by threats of demolition, long-term disinvestment or neglect, insensitive governmental action, uncertainty or indifference. Nominations for this important list have come from individuals, preservation organizations, downtown and neighborhood revitalization organizations, historical societies, historic road associations, local governments and other entities. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
On August 29, 1932, two houses standing on the west side of North Gamble Street in downtown Shelby had a date with a bulldozer.
It took only a few days for the two structures, one large Queen Anne residence and another older, small structure, to make way for an exciting new chapter in Shelby civic history.
Prior to this, the US Congress had set aside $105,000 for the purpose of buying and clearing land, erecting a new building to house the local post office and some additional federal offices, and to furnish the same. The monies had been championed by former US Congressman William M. Morgan. More…
Featured, Landmarks of Richland, Richland County History, Shelby History
By 1812Blockhouse
One could say that the village center of Plymouth might be termed a “One-Half Landmark of Richland,” as Main Street, the downtown’s main thoroughfare, straddles the Richland County – Huron County line.
It would be hard to argue, however, that its downtown boasts one of the most intact sets of nineteenth century commercial buildings in north central Ohio. And, as of December of last year, it is also an area recognized as significant by its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
In our Richland Roots series, we briefly present the lives of men and women from Richland County — either by birth, or residence — that have made important contributions to American history but who may not be household names.
Other posts in our series can be viewed and read here.
Today’s subject may be one of the the wealthiest people that Richland County has ever produced. While that is a difficult concept to measure, in terms of accmuluated wealth for the time in which he or she lived, it would be difficult to beat the financial success of Verner Zevola Reed. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
Since 2013, the Ohio History Fund has made 94 grants in nearly 40 counties totaling approximately $870,000. Proving there is a strong need for the program, it has received over 430 grant proposals totaling $5.3 million in requests.
This year, the City of Shelby was a recipient.
Money for the grants comes from citizens, who can help in three ways: 1) contributing a portion of a state income tax refund to the Ohio History Fund, line 26 on Ohio’s tax return, 2) purchasing Ohio History “mastodon” license plates, and 3) making a direct gift to the Ohio History Connection for the Ohio History Fund. The more everyone contributes, the more grants are made. More…
City of Shelby, Grants, Richland County History, Shelby History
By 1812Blockhouse
We don’t know about you, but we here at 1812Blockhouse are fond of occasional window-shopping… of houses. One of the favorite ways to do so back in the day was the Haring Realty Home Show, on each Sunday on WMFD-TV.
Richland County is, of course, home to a rich variety of houses of all types, prices, and sizes. From time to time, almost all of them become available on the market for interested buyers.
We’re started a series here on 1812Blockhouse called “Richland Houses.” With each post, we share a sampling of what is now on the market that fit a particular description. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
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…
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. 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…
By 1812Blockhouse
In our Richland Roots series, we briefly present the lives of men and women from Richland County — either by birth, or residence — that have made important contributions to American history but who may not be household names.
Other posts in our series can be viewed and read here.
Today, we share a bit about Brevet Brigadier General Franklin Sawyer. More…
Civil War, Featured, Richland County History, Richland Roots
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
Here’s a summer road trip idea for you, right here in Richland County. Why not visit one or more of the county’s historic and notable bridges?
According to the website Bridgehunter.com, there are over 25 of them in both city and rural settings. In a lengthy introduction, the site’s creator shares, “Somebody needs to document these things before they are lost. If some low-budget history museum can get mentioned in the tourist brochures, then why not a real historic site that is still being used? If people are willing to drive long distances to see a covered bridge, then why not a truss bridge? (It could be argued that a covered bridge is merely a truss bridge with a roof.)” More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Mansfield’s unique and strong connection with pioneer nurseryman Johnny Appleseed is an important element of local history.
While Johnny moved away in later life, and is buried in Fort Wayne, Indiana, his connections to this area remained strong. His name has appeared on a local shopping center; on an Boy Scout Council; and on a historic marker in Mansfield’s Central Park and monument in South Park near the Blockhouse.
Richland County is also a key part of the Johnny Appleseed Historic Byway.
1812Blockhouse has followed stories related to Johnny’s fame as well as artifacts related to his life and legend. That has included the fate of the former Johnny Appleseed Education Center and Museum on the campus of Urbana University in Urbana. More…
Featured, Johnny Appleseed, Mansfield History, Richland County History
