A hidden gem , housed in the vintage soldiers and sailors memorial building , located near the village square in downtown Mansfield .
This quaint museum is hosted by knowledgeable and caring curator Scott Schaut , who has lovingly displayed a variety of curios from the past , including ELECTRO , a robot that was one of the major attractions of the 1939 worlds fair .
Joining ELECTRO are a number of his robotic cousins , Who were the preliminary models designed by once local WESTINGHOUSE electrical and mechanical engineers . ( Sadly missing from the exhibit is ELECTROs longtime companion and traveling Buddy SPARKO the mechanical dog , whose fate as of yet , has not been determined ..... but the search is on ! )
The museum is chock full of wonderful memorabilia which pays tribute to Mansfield's once thriving industrial manufacturing Base , which at one time provided a great number of locally made products to worldwide buyers . Typical exhibits include the first washer and dryer combo , a classic cooking Stove , old toasters , the first microwave and other items too numerous to mention ,
Sandwiched in between a plethora of exhibits are native American artifacts , a fleet of model airplanes , century old clothing , old advertising pieces , tools and appliances of yesteryear , civil war items , the 1922 doughboy statue from the town square , and a mountain of historical papers dating back to the 1890s ,which provide a written history of Mansfield's glorious past .
Due to limited floor space , exhibits are constantly rotated , with many items frequently brought out of storage . ( where else can one find preserved stumps from the actual Apple trees planted by Johnny Appleseed himself ? )
A quality museum in a city the size of Mansfield
Is a rare find , as is its energetic director Scott Schaut . I can assure that You will be impressed by what you see and hear during guided tours .
The museum is open to the public , several days a week during the summer , with limited hours during the winter months . ( During the winter : Saturdays 10am to 4 pm and Sunday's From Noon until 4 pm ) with the normal Expanded hours returning in the spring .
While admission is complimentary , Donations are gleefully accepted , and used to maintain the building , in addition to purchasing items that can be added as future exhibits . Please Give whatever you can afford as a stipend for your visit !
Tours and group lectures are available upon request.
For a worthwhile treat and a detailed look at authentic Vintage paraphernalia , why not invest an afternoon in visiting the Mansfield Memorial Museum . It's a wonderful learning tool for children and even adults Will be enthralled by what they see, hear and find ! read more
