Our Goal
The current goal of Richl
and Early American Center for History (REACH) is to transform South Park in Mansfield into an early American settlement village. The village will use living-history demonstrations to tell stories that excite the senses with the sights, smells, and sounds from our area's colonial past. It will be host to music of the past, open- hearth cooking, historical dinner programs and other educational events.
ABOUT US
We have a fully operational Blacksmith's and Cooper's Shop to complement the existing 1812 Blockhouse and 1808 Log Cabin adding to our small settlement village for the preservation of and education of early American life. We hope you will take an interest in all that we have accomplished to bring South Park back to a family friendly atmosphere. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community. It will living history events, host demonstrations, workshops, and educational events.
EVENTS
In May
, we had an Our Open House in connection with RichHistory Alliance. Visitors were able to tour the 1812 Blockhouse, the 1808 Petersburg Cabin, and Hawk's Nest Forge and Cooperage. We opened our doors the 2nd and 4th weekend of the Month of June, July, and August.
Colonial Days Weekend returned to South Park in June. The event is free and open to the public. Re-enactors set up camp wearing authentic period dress while answering questions from the public. There were speakers, musket demonstrations, 18th century blanket traders and vendors, Indian artifacts display in the blockhouse, 18th century cooking in the cabin over an open hearth, and blacksmithing. Demonstrations of activities like cross cutting, rope making, and 18th Century dance.
Introd
uction to Blacksmithing Workshops were held at Hawks Nest Forge. The participants were taught the history of blacksmithing, basic tooling, fire skills, steel/iron identification, and hammer control skills. Each participant made a tent stake and a wall mounted hook which involved many different basic methods incorporated into the project.
Pictures by Traci Little Tribune-CourAmerican Heritage Days Weekend returned to South Park in October. The event is free and open to the public. This year’s event featured a timeline with reenactors depicting various aspects of 18th and 19th century life, including blacksmithing, open hearth cooking demonstrations, musket demonstrations, games and children’s activities. Re-enactors set up camp in the park, wearing authentic period dress and answering questions from the public.
W
e welcomed the kids from STEAM camp this summer. They learned about 18th century medicine, how to prepare and bake Johnny Cakes in the cabin over a fire. They were given a school lesson in the blockhouse that once served as an schoolhouse. They were shown how to make their own rope as well as how a blacksmith made nails using a forge.
We hope to do more events in the future and with the help of funding we will be able to do this. Please join us in being a part of this special homage to Richland County's history by donating and visiting our site.
We invite you to follow us on our Facebook Page at Richland Early American Center for History.
WHERE CAN I VISIT?
WHEN CAN I VISIT?
Visit any time including our special events throughout the year:
- Open Weekends - 2nd and 4th weekends in June, July, and August
- American Heritage Days weekend held the 1st weekend in October.
- Blacksmithing Workshops
- 18th Century Cooking Demonstration
- Group and school tours available upon request
18th century re-enactors will greet at these events and speak to you about what it was like to live in Mansfield 200 years ago. We wish to help residents increase their knowledge of local history and learn how our ancestors discovered the beauty of Richland County, Ohio.