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 and looks like something from a fairy tale! The house is famous for its unique style, called Gothic Revival. This means it has pointed arches, fancy trim, and steep roofs, like old European castles or churches. Inside, you can see furniture and items from the 1870s, making it feel like you've stepped back in time.
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Discovering Oak Hill Cottage
Oak Hill Cottage was built by a man named John Robinson. He was in charge of the Sandusky, Mansfield, and Newark Railroad. Robinson bought the land for his home in 1844 and called it White Oak Hill. An architect named Ralph Adams Cram later called it "The one perfect Gothic House I’ve seen in the United States." Robinson built his home close to the railroad. This was handy for him, as he wanted to be near Mansfield's business area.
The Jones Family Home
After John Robinson, the house had a few owners. But its most famous owner was Dr. Johannes Jones. He bought Oak Hill in 1864. The Jones family lived there for over 100 years! Dr. Jones's wife, Francis Barr Jones, and their four daughters (Madell, Bess, Ida, and Leile) made the cottage a very special place. It became a center for social events in Mansfield.
Dr. Jones loved music. He often invited musicians who were visiting Mansfield to informal parties at Oak Hill. Dr. Jones passed away in 1895, and his funeral was held right there at the cottage. His wife, Francis, continued to live in the home until she died in 1912.
The last private owner was Leile Barrett, the youngest Jones daughter. As she got older, the house started to show its age. In 1965, she sold Oak Hill to the Richland County Historical Society.
Bringing the Cottage Back to Life
The Historical Society worked hard to fix up the house. They also restored the furniture to how it looked around 1870. This was when most of the original items in the house were bought. Finally, in 1983, Oak Hill Cottage opened its doors for public tours.
The cottage even inspired a book! Louis Bromfield, a writer from Mansfield, was Mrs. Jones's grand-nephew. He spent time at Oak Hill and loved it. He used the house as the setting for "Shane’s Castle" in his first novel, The Green Bay Tree, published in 1924.
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.
A Local Legend
There's a popular story that Oak Hill Cottage was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. However, this story was disproved by Mrs. Ethel Zott, a relative of the first owner, John Robinson. She said that Robinson likely would not have used his home for this purpose. In fact, his diary entries showed he supported the Southern states. He did not want Abraham Lincoln to become president.
Visiting the Museum
The Richland County Historical Society bought the house in 1965. They have carefully restored it. Now, Oak Hill Cottage is a museum that is open to everyone. You can visit and learn about its history and the people who lived there.
See also
