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AN OLD LANDMARK

Ye Olden Times are often recalled to the minds of the older inhabitants of a city whenever any improvement, addition or reconstruction sufficient to change the outward appearance of one of the old "landmarks" is made.  The tenderness with which the oldest inhabitants regard some of these monuments of the days that are past and gone, can only be imagined by the younger generation. 

Feelings such as we have described above are incited to the breasts of the early residents of Mansfield when they view the work of the destruction of the old brick dwelling house on the northwestern corner of Main and First Streets, which is now owned by the Hooker heirs.  A great many people will be surprised to learn that this building was one of the first, if not the first brick structure ever erected in our city.  It was built by Edwin Grant, a veteran tanner, who died a number of years ago.  His widow, however, is still living and resides with her daughter, Mrs. R.R. Smith, at No. 28 East Fourth Street. 

A SHIELD man called on Mrs. Grant during the past week for the purpose of gaining the facts and data regarding this building which has seen the growth of Mansfield from a struggling village to a bustling city.  Mrs.. Grant was 82 years of age last January and, although visibly showing the effects of age, her memory still remains unimpaired and for strength will compare with memories of people who have only numbered half her years.  Mrs. Grant said that she moved to Mansfield with her parents in 1815, and has been a resident of this city longer than any other person who immigrated to this place and longer than any person now living here. 

In 1817 young Edwin Grant at the solicitation of a number of his relatives, came from his home in Fairfield, Conn. and erected a tannery near Ritter's Run, between Main and Walnut Streets.  After having been in the tanning business several years and making a success of it, he found it necessary to enlarge his quarters, so he proceeded to erect a brick building on the northwest corner of Main and First Streets, to be used as a finishing shop.  Accordingly he erected a three story building, which for several years he used for this purpose and which is the subject of our narrative.  The building being too far from the tannery to satisfactorily answer the purpose for which it was originally intended, Mr. Grant built a frame building for his shop and fitted the brick building for a dwelling house and as such it has ever since been used.

In 1840 Mr. Grant sold his property, Dr. E.W. Lake purchasing the brick dwelling.  He retained possession of it for a number of years, disposing of it to other parties and it finally fell into the hands of Richard Hooker.  It is still in the possession of his heirs.

A number of years ago, when the first grade was established on South Main Street, it became necessary to fill up the yard surrounding the house, so that for a considerable period it has been only a two story dwelling.  During the last few weeks it has been torn down and this old landmark is no more.  This old building was not handsome;  in fact it was regarded by the unthinking and irreverent as an eyesore.  But to our old-time citizens this relic of Mansfield's antiquity was an object of more than ordinary interest and they see it pass away with feelings of regret.  A more modern structure will soon occupy the site of the venerable old brick house.

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Thursday, June 07, 2007