Crestline Enginehouse Facility, Crestline, Crawford County
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Richland County
BUILT 1886 - The amazing Ohio State Reformatory was built as a monument of civic progress, its size and unique blend of Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne architectural styles designed to foster inmate rehabilitation. The massive structure, visible off of US Route 30 north of Downtown Mansfield, houses the world’s largest free-standing cellblock. The Reformatory is also a “movie star,” having been used for scenes in several movies, and prominently featured in “The Shawshank Redemption.” The property is owned by the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society (MRPS), a volunteer organization that works to generate funding for restoration.
The task, however, is as monumental as the building itself. Significant deterioration had occurred prior to MRPS’s involvement with the building, and much of funds generated to date have been utilized in stabilization efforts, including new roofs, window restoration and some interior work. The MRPS is seeking the funding necessary to enable the Reformatory to serve a similar role in the Mansfield community that it did when first built in 1886 – as a community icon and economic generator.
The Ohio State Reformatory is a vital component of Ohio’s governmental and social history. It has been listed in recognition of its local, regional and statewide importance, to highlight its potential re-use value, and to encourage widespread support of MRPS’s preservation efforts.
Links
Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society - www.mrps.org
Mansfield/Richland Convention & Visitors Bureau - www.mansfieldtourism.org
City of Mansfield - www.ci.mansfield.oh.us/
BUILT 1920 - Sitting on the edge of the City of Crestline, the 30-stall, brick roundhouse was constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad about 1920, the sole survivor of four. The building represented a boost to the local economy for the next generation, as it solidified Crestline’s role as a division headquarters for the PRR. The building sat along side the primary rail line from Pittsburgh to Chicago.
The massive structure faces a most uncertain future, as the level of deterioration has been documented as “advanced.” Though sitting on a solid concrete foundation, the main culprit is corrosion of steel framing in the roof deck. While the brick walls are independent of the structural framework, they are in poor condition, and most of the windows, doors and frames are gone. The Crestline Roundhouse Preservation Society has worked toward acquiring ownership of the property, and is now moving to conceptual and practical planning for the building’s preservation.
The history of Ohio’s railroads is largely the history of Ohio’s development in the late 19th and early 20th century. As a remnant of that storied past, the Crestline Enginehouse Facility has no peer across the US. By listing this property, OPA hopes to focus attention on this valuable artifact and to encourage others to support the work of the CRPS.
