90 years in the making: Restoration of Westinghouse Home of Tomorrow part of public museum quest

MANSFIELD — For nearly 90 years, what once was a lavender-colored house at 895 Andover Rd. has stood as a reminder of Mansfield’s manufacturing past.

Soon, a local group hopes it will become a window into that history.

The North Central Ohio Industrial Museum (NCOIM) has signed a letter of intent with the current owner of the Westinghouse Home of Tomorrow, marking the first step toward purchasing and restoring the landmark home as a public museum.

NCOIM officials plan to launch a fundraising campaign immediately, seeking private donations to acquire the property, restore its first floor to its 1934 appearance and support operations during its first year.

“We are excited to expand our local manufacturing history to include this beautiful and historic Mansfield home,” said Jerry Miller, president of the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum.

Built by Westinghouse in 1934, the Home of Tomorrow showcased the latest electric appliances manufactured in Mansfield at the time. More than 250,000 visitors toured the home during its first two years before it became a private residence.

From neighborhood landmark to museum

Miller said the idea grew to turn the structure into a museum came from years of admiration for the property.

Miller and his wife moved into the Woodland Garden Apartments five years ago, placing them just steps away from the home.

“We see the Home of Tomorrow every day,” Miller said.

He said the house itself is the museum’s primary historical artifact. Further, NCOIM must plan for its care and restoration, along with Westinghouse Appliance, built in Mansfield.

Local historians know the home has significant importance to the Woodland neighborhood of Mansfield, starting with the Dickson Family Farm in the late 1800’s and stretching from the Dickson Woodland Echoes Gardens from 1922 to 1949.

The history continued with Dickson’s development of the Woodland neighborhood, beginning in 1926 with the first home built by William Davey, founder of the Mansfield Sheet and Tin Plate Company in 1912, and later the Home of Tomorrow in 1934.

Last fall, Miller loaned the home’s original 1933 architectural plans, drawn by Vern Redding, to owner Kelly Converse, Mansfield’s finance director. During that exchange, he first raised the idea of the museum acquiring the property.

Two weeks ago, those conversations became more serious.

If the project moves forward, Miller said NCOIM plans to restore the home’s first floor to its original appearance and highlight the role Westinghouse played in shaping Mansfield’s economy.

At its peak, Westinghouse employed thousands of workers in Mansfield. Before World War II, the company employed roughly 6,000 people locally, a number that later grew to about 8,400.

Museum plans also call for exhibits exploring Art Deco architecture, the Woodland neighborhood’s history and Mansfield’s manufacturing heritage.

Stepping back into 1934

Visitors would experience the home through guided tours by appointment, according to the museum’s preliminary plan.

NCOIM envisions hiring a local historian to tell the story of the Westinghouse Home of Tomorrow, plan the visitor flow, install room barriers, label artifacts and ensure all tours are docent-led.

NCOIM curators and advisors from the Richland County Historical Society would manage and display items inside the Home of Tomorrow Museum.

Miller said he hopes guests feel as though they have traveled back in time.

“They will step back to 1934, before World War II, and see what electricity brought to America,” he said.

The museum may even incorporate Elektro and Sparko, Westinghouse’s famous robots from the 1939 New York World’s Fair, into future exhibits.

For Miller, one of the most exciting aspects of the project involves opening a place many residents have spent their entire lives driving past.

“When the home was open in 1934 and 1935, more than 250,000 people visited,” he said. “Three generations have driven by the home and never seen it.”

Navigating funding, permits and preservation requirement

Before that vision becomes reality, the museum faces several hurdles.

Miller said the organization must secure city approval, including zoning permission and raise approximately $500,000 for the purchase and restoration effort.

The museum’s long-term plan includes preserving the structure, maintaining historically accurate interiors, creating educational exhibits and offering limited tours while protecting the home’s historic character.

To balance historical integrity with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Miller said the NCOIM may need to install ramps, widen hallways or offer digital tours for areas that cannot be altered.

Other visitor amenities would include restrooms, a small ticketing and admissions area, a gift shop and parking spaces that comply with local city ordinances.

If successful, the project would bring one of Mansfield’s most recognizable manufacturing landmarks back into public view for the first time since 1936.