At the corner of Bowman and Harker Street in downtown Mansfield, a red brick building has stood the test of time while becoming a symbol of hope to the surrounding community. This fall, the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center will celebrate its 100th anniversary at 445 Bowman Street.
Throughout the years the building has been known as the old Creveling School, the Mansfield Opportunities Industrial Center, the Human Resource Bureau and the Neighborhood Youth Corps, but in 1996 it was renamed for the last time. Ocie Hill was the first African American to be elected to Mansfield City Council, and the longest serving individual on council in the history of Mansfield, serving from 1961 to 1991.
From the time Mansfield City Schools closed the Creveling School, the red brick building became a base for operational programs that continue to serve the families and youth in Mansfield and Richland County. Sherri Jones, Director of the City of Mansfield Department of Regional Community Advancement, listed a number of programs provided at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center in areas including education, health and family assistance, community, and recreation.
Ocie Hill is home to the Culliver Reading Center, the Success Center After School Program, Summer Enrichment Camp, the Mansfield City Schools attendance service, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Help Me Grow, Richland County Youth and Family Council, the Cosby Educational Heritage Center, and a variety of fitness programs. Jones said the programs at Ocie Hill reach people from all ages across Richland County.
“Help Me Grow is from birth to three years old, and it just keeps going up, all the way up to a seasoned citizen,” said Jones.
The programs at Ocie Hill are well attended, with approximately 300 clients with Help Me Grow, approximately 250 students participating in summer programs, and roughly 3,000 people coming in and out of the center on a regular basis. Jones said even though the lists sometimes get long, she tries not to turn anybody away.
“We keep our doors open, we have kids that are generally used to being here even though they’ve outgrown the program and they still like to come around and hang out,” said Jones. “We’re considered like a safe haven for them.”
Ocie Hill also functions as a safe haven for its students attending one of three educational programs: Mansfield Elective Academy, Mansfield Enhancement Academy (STAR), and Interactive Media and Construction (IMAC). Deborah Franklin, Executive Director of the three conversion academies, said the school at Ocie Hill was initially developed for at-risk students but has since grown to include a variety of students.
“I’m pleased to say now that we get students who aren’t considered at-risk students; they choose to come here because of the environment,” said Franklin.
Mansfield Elective Academy is a K-9 conversion school that primarily focuses on students from non-traditional families who may live with foster parents or extended family members. The STAR and IMAC programs address the needs of students who have failed to successfully complete the requirements necessary for a high school diploma. Franklin said Ocie Hill houses close to 200 students in each conversion academy.
“I like that we’re taking kids who other people discard, and we’re succeeding,” she said. “If you only look at the numbers then it doesn’t show, but if you look behind the numbers and where we’re moving to, that’s what people need to do.”
Franklin said the premise at Ocie Hill is positive impact and positive reinforcement as opposed to punitive and negative reinforcement, helping students to succeed in graduating high school and ideally moving on to college. Sometimes, she admitted, it’s a long road to travel.
“We get students in who are very rough, but we recognize it as pushing us away and testing us to see if we will still stand strong,” she said. “We don’t take it personally, we just look at breaking through the barriers. And once you break through the barrier, they never let you go. Those are the things that keep you going and make you want to do it.”
The importance of the Ocie Hill building is not to be understated, said Franklin – not only the collaborative spirit between the academies and the neighborhood programs, but the location of the building itself.
“I like that we’re only about two miles away from the penitentiary,” said Franklin. “If you look at the main part of the city and look where we’re situated, I like to think of us as a roadblock. I love to visualize us as the wall to keep our kids from going down that road.”
For the generations of alumni graduated from the schools and programs at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center, this fall will present a chance for friends and family to reunite. The 100th anniversary of the building will provide opportunities throughout the year to visit the school, bid at the Friends of Ocie Hill Auction, brush up on knowledge at Back to School Night, view exhibits, read publications, return for reunions and join in community projects. Those who would like to volunteer to participate in these commemorative events can call 419-524-2626.
Franklin said she is looking forward to the anniversary celebrations as a way for students to revisit their home away from home and revitalize the old brick building on Bowman Street. Jones said she looks at the celebration as a reminder to the community of what Ocie Hill is all about.
“This is an old school building and it’s a reminder that even though it’s not all school, there’s still a celebration because we’re still keeping a piece of that going on and we’re still able to give back to the community,” she said.
“This is an old school building and it’s a reminder that even though it’s not all school, there’s still a celebration because we’re still keeping a piece of that going on and we’re still able to give back to the community,” Deborah Franklin said.
