MANSFIELD — The Richland Early American Center for History (REACH) is hosting a free event Saturday in South Park in honor of Johnny Appleseed’s 250th birthday.
Festivities will include educational displays, historic demonstrations, live entertainment and vendors.
It’s one of several events paying homage to the American horticulturist and folk hero in the coming weeks.
“This one is a little bit more family oriented,” said Cheryl Rettig of REACH. “We’ve tried to do a little bit of something for everyone.”
John Chapman was born in Massachusetts in the mid-1770s. A quirky, eccentric and deeply spiritual man, he’s most famous for planting apple orchards throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
“One way that he could acquire land was to plant apple trees on the land and then maintain the land, so throughout Ohio he had different places that he had planted these apple trees,” Rettig said.
One of Chapman’s plots was located where the modern-day Wappner Funeral Home sits, 98 S. Diamond St., according to Rettig.
Event includes historical presenters, demonstrations
Demonstrations will provide a glimpse into several facets of early American life, including blacksmith, sourdough baking, candle making, rope making, period games and square dancing.
There will also be a children’s story time and alpacas from Backwoods Alpacas.
Live performers include the Johnny Appleseed Square Dances and the Lincoln Highway Bluegrass Band.
Live presenters will depict famous local figures including Appleseed, James Hedges and Jacob Newman.
General Hedges and Newman were among the three founders of Mansfield in 1808, according to a historical marker that bears his name.
Hedges was born in Ohio County, Virginia and taught school there before coming to Ohio in 1803. As a deputy surveyor, he worked in several nearby counties and purchased 19,000 acres in what would become Richland County. He later donated the land for the First United Methodist Church, Hedges School and a park. He also fought in the War of 1812.
Newman was Hedges’ cousin. He built the first cabin in Richland County at what is today the intersection of Route 39 and Sites Road.
Historic organizations including the Lincoln Highway Display, Ohio Genealogical Society and Richland County Museum will have displays on site. Guests will also be able to see hides, skins and Native American arrowheads.
The vendor’s market will feature products including sourdough bread, soap and simmer pot bags, flowers, homemade pastries, honey, apple butter, fresh produces, jams, jellies, plans and more.
Saturday’s event begins at 10 a.m and concludes at 5 p.m. A full schedule for the event is listed below.
Full event schedule
10 a.m. Flag raising by the Boy Scouts at the Johnny Appleseed Monument
10 a.m. Appletree watercolor class with Juli Parsons at the pavilion
11 a.m. Paul Lintern will depict at James Hedges at the small stage by the cabin
12 p.m. Ken Hammontree will portray Johnny Appleseed at the small stage by the cabin
1 p.m. Children’s storytime with Mary Johnson at the small stage by the cabin
1 p.m. Johnny Appleseed Square Dances at the pavilion
2 p.m. Jeff Mandeville will portray Jacob Newman at the small stage by the cabin
3 p.m. The Lincoln Highway Bluegrass Band performs at the trailer stage by the cabin
