North central Ohio enjoys a rich history in manufacturing, providing both educational and technical advancements to the industry throughout the past 200 years. In Mansfield, local residents hope to bring that history to life with the establishment of the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum.
The museum is the brainchild of Bob Glasener, an Ingram Oldsmobile employee who started collecting items in the late 1980s with the idea of a museum. Jerry Miller and Steve Cummins, along with the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, hope to continue Glasener’s work and make the museum a reality.
“We believe the key is to educate each generation on the importance of manufacturing,” said Miller. “We’d like to honor what was built, the men and women with ideas that have gone before us, and we also want to showcase present-day manufacturing.”
Miller and Cummins have formed an alliance with the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society (MRPS) that will provide the Industrial Museum with physical space, the “Lower Diagonal Room” at the Mansfield Reformatory. Now, the challenge is to restore the space – Miller and Cummins hope to raise $150,000 to start with renovations, including utilities, painting, supplies, and building repair.
“Hopefully if we get the money raised in the next couple months we can start construction and renovation, and then open in summer or late fall,” said Miller. “At that time the prison will be running ticket admissions so we can have tickets for the whole prison museum or the manufacturing museum. There is a separate entrance from the outside and outside space so we have room for outdoor displays, too.”
When it comes to artifacts, the museum already has a head start. Miller said the collection thus far includes the stone marquee and stoves from Tappan, Westinghouse Appliances, as well as a Rupp Snowmobile, Go-Kart and Roadster.
“We have probably four or five really old stoves, some from the 1950s, a couple refrigerators, and the last washer/dryer and washing machine off the line signed by all the employees,” said Miller. “Artifacts won’t be a problem, people have things like that through their family or in a garage they don’t know what to do with; this will be a place people can put that.”
Miller said he is confident that once the community is aware of the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum they will be able to collect artifacts, products, photos, documents and other memorabilia for permanent display, in addition to a rotating exhibit of current, local manufactured products. However, none of it will be possible without first renovating the space.
“We hope to have some hands-on exhibits so kids can become interested in manufacturing, and the older generation will love the artifacts we have and reminiscing,” said Miller. “Everybody will enjoy the look back and still be impressed by what we’re still making today.
“There are a lot of great stories, and we definitely want those stories told,” he said.
For more information about donating to the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum, contact Jerry Miller at 419-884-0459 or Steve Cummins at 419-524-1300.
