MANSFIELD — Bright orange lilies line the fence surrounding one of the city’s best preserved examples of Victorian Italianate architecture.
Built in 1878-1879 by James Dickson II, the Dickson House contains several features that point to a storied past — its paired brackets at the cornice, segmental-arched windows with two-over-two sash, and front and side entry porticos.
This house, located at 238 W. 3rd St., was first occupied by Victor Dickson. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Dickson family operated one of the city’s largest wholesale markets located at the corner of Third and Main streets: Dickson Market.
In the early 1990s, the house was sold to lifelong Mansfield resident Anna Marie Durtschi for $25,000. By that point, the house had been converted into two apartment units, with one unit on each floor.
“When I graduated from nursing school, I bought this house just thinking it’d be so nice to be near downtown and be able to walk to shops,” Anna said.
Having grown up in a big house with a big family, Anna always wanted a big house of her own.
“It reminds me of those old movies like ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ or something like that,” she said.
She now lives there with her husband Tony, three dogs and two cats.
“It’s nice being close to those things,” she said.
The couple takes advantage of being within walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants and entertainment.
“We’ve walked to dinner, to the (Mansfield) Playhouse and walked home at night with no problems,” she said.
The two-story home is about 2,700 square feet. It has 12 rooms and a basement that’s used primarily for storage.
When Anna moved in, she kept mostly to the second floor and considered renting out the first floor.
“But then we just started spreading out,” she said with a laugh.
The couple’s bedroom is now on the first floor, but they still like to use the “upstairs kitchen” on a daily basis. The kitchen on the first floor is used mainly for entertaining. They’ve found the second kitchen to be handy for hosting, especially during the holidays.
One of Anna’s favorite things about living here is decorating.
“It’s just like a big canvas,” she said.
Each room has its own flare, from the color scheme, to the decor.
“We’re always redoing rooms,” she said.
With each improvement, however, they seek to maintain the historical integrity of the building.
The backyard has seen some adjustments over the years. Originally, the area was mainly grass, but Tony, who does the bulk of the landscaping, laid different shapes and sizes of stones on the ground, forming a mosaic.
“My favorite room is outside,” he said. “I love the backyard.”
Trees tower over the picket fence surrounding the backyard. Water cascades from a fountain into a small pond full of orange and yellow fish.
“People have said, ‘You wouldn’t even know you live downtown,'” Anna said.
About three months ago, the Durtschis purchased a 36 x 180-foot vacant lot that’s adjacent to their property from the Richland County Land Bank for $199.
The couple is considering adding a pergola, raised beds for gardening, a green house, and more plants and trees to the lot. The possibilities are endless.
Surveying her property with a smile, Anna remarked on how fortunate she is to have such a place to call home. She said she’s happy to see others pursuing housing options in downtown Mansfield.
“I hope that the trend continues.”
