Oak Hill Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oak Hill Cottage
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Oak Hill Cottage, Mansfield, Ohio
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 310 Springmill Street, Mansfield, Ohio |
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| Built | 1847 |
| Architect | John Robinson |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000149 |
| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1969 |
Oak Hill Cottage is a beautiful old house in Mansfield, Ohio. It was built in 1847 by a man named John Robinson. He was in charge of the Sandusky, Mansfield, and Newark Railroad. The house is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style uses designs inspired by medieval churches. It also has special wooden decorations called Carpenter Gothic.
The house is located at 310 Springmill Street. Inside, you can find furniture and items from the 1870s. These items are still in the house today, just as they were long ago.
Contents
The House's Early Days
John Robinson bought the land for his home in April 1844. He called his property "White Oak Hill." A famous architect, Ralph Adams Cram, later called the house "The one perfect Gothic House I’ve seen in the United States." Mr. Robinson built his home close to the railroad. This was handy for him since he worked there.
After some time, Mr. Robinson faced money problems. He had to give the house back to the Farmer's Bank. In 1861, a man named Mr. Harvey Hall bought the house.
The Jones Family Era
In 1864, Dr. Johannes Jones bought Oak Hill Cottage. His family lived there for over 100 years. Dr. Jones's wife, Francis Barr Jones, and their four daughters helped make the house very special. They often hosted important social events in Mansfield.
Dr. Jones enjoyed having musicians visit Oak Hill. He would hold informal parties for them when they performed in Mansfield.
Dr. Jones passed away in 1895. His funeral was held right there at Oak Hill Cottage. His wife, Francis, continued to live in the house until she died in 1912.
The last private owner was Leile Barrett, the youngest Jones daughter. She took care of the house for many years. However, as she got older and her health declined, the house started to fall apart. Because of this, she sold Oak Hill to the Richland County Historical Society in 1965.
Restoring Oak Hill Cottage
The Historical Society worked hard to fix up the house. They also restored the furniture inside to look like it did around 1870. This was when most of the original items were bought. Finally, in 1983, Oak Hill Cottage opened its doors for public tours.
Oak Hill in a Famous Book
Oak Hill Cottage was also featured in a book! It was the setting for The Green Bay Tree, the first novel by Louis Bromfield. He was from Mansfield and was Mrs. Jones's grand-nephew. He had many happy memories of spending time at the house. He even wrote about it in his 1924 novel, calling it "Shane’s Castle."
On June 11, 1969, Oak Hill Cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is known as the Oak Hill Cottage and Museum.
Underground Railroad Story
There's a popular story that Oak Hill Cottage was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. However, this story was proven wrong. Mrs. Ethel Zott, a relative of John Robinson (the first owner), said in a newspaper interview that she doubted he would use his home for this. In fact, Mr. Robinson's own diary showed he supported the Southern states that had slavery. He did not want Abraham Lincoln to become president.
Visiting Oak Hill Today
The Richland County Historical Society bought the house in 1965. They have restored it and now keep it as a museum. You can visit Oak Hill Cottage to learn about its history and see how people lived long ago.
See also
