Richland County, rich with diversity, culture and history, celebrates its 200th birthday this month. In honor of its bicentennial mark Pastor Paul Lintern, a well-known historian and founder of Isaac’s World Inc., put together a historical re-enactment event portrayed yesterday. Lintern, along with a group of about 30 local actors and history buffs created Central to Our History.
The event was held in Central Park on the square. “We wanted to make the opportunity available to the residents to learn about the history of this great city and to celebrate it,” said Lintern.
State Representative Mark Romanchuk was on hand to welcome those in attendance to enjoy the festivities and celebrate local history.
Claire Hansborough of Mansfield, spectator and member of the First Methodist Church sat in the shade of the square enjoying the event and declared,” I think this is really nice, just wonderful.”
The park was divided into several quadrants allowing people wander into different periods of time to meet with and speak to actors portraying significant characters and learn of their contributions to the development of Mansfield.
Lintern himself played the part of surveyor James Hedges who worked for Jared Mansfield, for whom the town was named.
Just adjacent to the gazebo you could step into the roaring 20’s as Olivia Wade of Bellville relayed the significant contributions of the era including the first appearances of tall building structures and the onset of a city was being formed. Charles Follis, also known as ‘The Black Cyclone’, the first black professional athlete was dressed in full uniform ready to tackle the day. Follis was played by Michael Barbosa of Mount Vernon.
No re-enactment would be complete without the famed Johnny Appleseed himself, munching of course on apples, Jim Stoner of Fredericktown had the honor of representing him.
The First United Methodist Church located at 12 North Diamond Street hosted a free community lunch.
Spectators enjoyed hotdogs, hamburgers and lemonade in the shade as they strolled from Wyandot Indians to the surge of industry through the dream of Martin Luther King, then down around the first built Gazebo to conversations with Taft and Roosevelt.
What began as a dense forest, grew into the a wooden oasis and newly developed urban life centered around what we have come to know as Central Park in Mansfield.
