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| Mansfield PA and Richmond Township in Tioga County PA |
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Gitchell House on S. Main built 1841 |
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by Chester P. Bailey
(undated)
Mansfield is in Tioga County, which was formed from Lycoming Township. Tioga County was a part of the last frontier in Pennsylvania. The area was not ceded by the Indians until the Treaty of Stanwix in 1774. The first white man came to Lawrenceville area in 1790.
It was not until Captain Williams built a road from Lycoming Creek north of Williamsport to New York State, that settlers began to come to Tioga County. The road today, which originally followed the Indian trail to the Genesee Valley, is called the Williamson Road. By the year 2002, RT. 15 will be a four-lane Interstate highway.
The first settler to the Mansfield area was Benjamin Corey, who settled on Corey Creek and built a bark cabin in 1790. The stream bears his name today.
Asa Mann came in 1804 and settled about three miles north of the present borough limits. He purchased 200 acres of land, which included most of the present boro and cleared 25 acres, which include the green at Main and Wellsboro Streets. This became a gathering place by the early settlers called "Mann’s field". Asa Mann was the first land developer, he laid out lots, built a hotel, had a store, a sawmill and owned a distillery. He served one year as County Commissioner; he also served as the first PostMaster.
The first brick house in Mansfield was built by Ben Gitchell in 1841 on south Main street and is still in use. Also the oldest home in Mansfield built by Daniel Holden in 1824, who opened a store nearby, is still in use.
The Borough was incorporated in 1857, the same year that the Mansfield Classical Seminary was built. It is today the Mansfield University. The oldest remaining building on Campus, North Hall built as a Woman’s dormitory was renovated into a first class, state of the arts, library in 1998.
Industries through the years have served the local needs, as the first saw mill in 1804. At one time Mansfield had two gristmills. The last survivor was taken down to make room for the shopping plaza in north Main Street. Other industries included a tannery, brick were made from local clay soil, Iron works, woolen mill, and a Novelty manufacture made tops that were shipped to Japan.
The Blossburg to Corning railroad was built through Mansfield in 1840. The line was closed in 1972 following a disastrous flood, and the fact that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was building a flood control dam on the Tioga River.
Today Agriculture and dairy farming is the largest industry with Tourism a close second.
| “THE FUTURE OF MANSFIELD” IS DR. BELKNAP’S TOPIC
JAN 6,1935 News clippiong in 1930s scrapbook given to me by Chester P. Bailey Nearly thirty were present at the Business Men’s Luncheon at the Home Tea Shop Tuesday noon of this week. The usual delightful dinner appeased the pangs of physical hunger, after which Dr. Arthur T. Belknap, of the college faculty, chased away the tortures of mental hunger with a very fine address on “The Future of Mansfield.” |
Postcard 1930s from Joyce's Collection |
“In speaking to the business men on this topic I feel that I can do so from a detached point of view. I had never even heard of such a town ad Mansfield, Pa., until fifteen years ago. Then, too, I am not in business, never have bee in business, and never really want to be in business.
What is a community? There are several definitions we might give. In a community we have social, religious, educational and business groups. There are some communities where one or more of these have been done away with to a great extent. Yet in all communities the people are dominated in their aims by one group or another. Different notions are bound to prevail.
“Business conditions have changed tremendously within the last few years. Now we have the telephone, parcel post and free mail delivery, the chain store, the mail order house, the automobile, just to name a few things that have each contributed greatly to changing business conditions.
“The terms of community life in Mansfield is our view point. Take the religious life. There are four self-supporting churches here when one would be enough. If we do not need so many churches then why do we need so many business places here?
“This has been a school town for a long time. We are hearing lots about county school systems at present, one school board for the entire county. I do not believe that conditions will measurably improve by such consolidations. Local school systems have a greater capacity as a whole than the county unit.
“We used to have a private normal school here. Years ago state aid was decided upon. It was a great decision when we stop to think of the dollars the State has spent here since. I do not believe that a capable man with a million dollar endowment could almost have done the job as fine as it is today. In too many cases the head of such an institution had to be a man that could get along well with a lot of messing trustees. At Mansfield that has not been so. It seems to have been the rule that always a competent head was chosen and then hands off by the trustees.
“The foundation of our prosperity here has been agriculture. I have often said that the way to put the farmer on his feet is by finding a way to make a Ford eat hay. Hay and milk are the two great local agricultural commodities.
“ A promotional industry does not get far in Mansfield. But I believe an industry would go far that grows from natural local conditions. I once lived near a lady in a small community. One day she knitted an article and gave it to a friend and neighbor. Other ladies saw the knitted article and asked the lady to make them some. Soon she found it necessary to hire someone to help her knit. After a bit she hired all of her knitting done and simply did the overseeing. It grew into a mighty industry from natural conditions.
“Not far from there lived a man on a fine farm; that is, what you could see it was fine. Most of it was under water. He seemed to know that fish live and grow in water. He started raising gold and silver fish and the like. In time he shipped them by the carload.
“The thing we need is more fundamental industries that will use our raw materials and local labor. We have depended upon uncertain things long enough. Such things as state roads, public relief, tourist trade, etc.,”
Dr. P.H. Riegel was the guest of the Rev. D.W. Baylis, who acted as chaplain for the day.
Mr. Peterson reported that the railroad bridge is to be repaired soon. It will be twenty-four feet wide and about the same height as at present, but much easier to negotiate.
Mr. W. Albert Bates gave the report and recommendations of the Steering Committee. The following slate of officers were unanimously elected for the new year:
President-Herbert G. Peterson
Vice-President- Harry A. Taylor
Secretary-W. Albert Bates
Treasurer- Percy A. Coles
Trustees-Peter L. Abrams, Geo. L. Palmer, Charles W. Ross, Fred Jupenlaz
Pianist- James W. Preston
Song Leader- George Palmer, Jr.
Following the election Mr. Peterson was installed during a very impressive ceremony. Mr. Bates was the installing officer.
The meeting next week will be held at The Home Tea Shop.
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