The history of aviation extends for more than 2,000 years, and for as long as it’s been around Mansfield has contributed to its advancement.
Scott Schaut, director of the Mansfield Memorial Museum, has his sight set on raising enough funds for a Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building that could become the newest educational attraction in Mansfield.
“It’s another piece of Richland County history because it’s not only Mansfield, but it’s Richland County as a whole. And the different events that have happened over the years have really coalesced into this (Mansfield) airport that we have,” Schaut said.
For the past 23 years, Schaut’s made plans on getting the new memorial up and running. Its features will include six cases between 25 feet and 35 feet long that’ll encompass all of Richland County’s history with aviation as well as photographs, artifacts and uniforms. Other artifacts included will be parts and pieces of the first plane crash that happened in Mansfield in 1934 and photos and film of the stoves made by Tappan Stove Co.for the USS Macon and USS Akron navy balloons.
Schaut, who’s been studying aviation for 23 years, wants to enrich community members’ lives with the importance of aviation and Richland County’s impact.
With the help of Mansfield Industrialist Jim Gorman, Schaut was able to purchase the building at 40 Park Avenue West. The new museum will be located in the back portion.
Mansfield’s connection to aviation dates all the way back to 1852 when Professor John Wise, arronaught, inflated the Jupiter, which flew over Mansfield on June 5, 1852 and eventually delivered the first US Air Mail from Indianapolis.
“That was the first of a long series of things that happened in Richland County, dealing with aviation,” Schaut said. He noted that the most important thing that happened was at the turn of the century in 1911 when Cal Rogers flew the VIN FIZ across the country. “It was the first cross country flight of the United States from the east coast to the west coast, and he landed near Mansfield to get gas, oil and directions.”
In order for the museum to open next year, Schaut is asking for donations from community members to raise the last of the $45,000 needed to complete the project.
With such a rich and long history of aviation in Mansfield, Schaut hopes other residents will see the great value of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building and the educational benefit it would bring.
“We’re not asking for millions of dollars, we’re asking only to raise the $45,000, which we’ve raised (several) thousand toward,” Schaut said. “it’s not that much money, but I know that times are hard and this is a strange time. However, it’s something that I think is long overdue, and we will make sure we do it justice.”
Checks should be made out to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building (SSMB) and can be sent to the Mansfield Memorial Museum at 34 Park Avenue West. For any other questions or to learn more about the museum, Schaut can be reached at 419-524-9924.
