Unveiling Mansfield’s Hidden Gems: A Journey Through the Forbidden City Tour

Among the myriad of sites explored during Downtown Mansfield Inc. and Preservation Ohio’s Forbidden City Tour in Mansfield, Ohio, one notable stop was the building located at 98 North Main Street.

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Among the myriad of sites explored during Downtown Mansfield Inc. and Preservation Ohio’s Forbidden City Tour in Mansfield, Ohio, one notable stop was the building located at 98 North Main Street. This edifice once housed various businesses, including the Mansfield Restaurant and the Coney Island Restaurant, the latter of which opened its doors in 1936. On Saturday, February 26, 1949, Coney Island celebrated a grand re-opening, commemorating 30 years in the restaurant business within the city. Operated by John George and his son, Harold, the establishment had been operating at the 98 North Main Street location for 15 years. New fluorescent lighting and stainless steel equipment were installed to mark the occasion.

The upper floors of the building served as a haven for a diverse array of businesses and apartments.

Notably, the Coney Island Restaurant continues to thrive, standing as the oldest restaurant in Mansfield.

Another impressive stop on the tour was the Eagles Building, situated at 129 North Main Street in downtown Mansfield, Ohio, and serving as the home of the Mansfield Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge 336. The three-level building was designed by Frank Hursh and completed at a cost of $30,000. Its cornerstone was laid in 1912.

The interior once boasted a lavish ambiance. It featured a dance hall on the third floor and elevated spaces on the west and east ends to accommodate a band and viewing area. A unique feature at the entrance to the dance hall was a carved hole, utilized to identify members seeking entry to the speakeasy during the days of Prohibition.

In 1966, the Eagles Lodge 336 constructed a new one-story structure at 133 North Main Street. The Eagles Building at 122 North Main Street was last used in May 1984.

The final destination on the Forbidden City Tour was the Mansfield Savings Bank, located at the corner of 4 West Fourth and North Main Street in downtown Mansfield, Ohio. The bank operated at this location from 1914 until the early 1980s. Prior to that, the bank was situated adjacent to 4 West Fourth for forty years in a building constructed specifically for the bank in 1872.

On June 11, 1912, the Mansfield Savings Bank finalized a deal to acquire two structures from the Martin Frank estate, which necessitated their demolition. For several years prior, the institution had endeavored to purchase the buildings to expand its operations and secure a prominent location on a bustling street corner.

The bank’s directors at that time were considering the construction of a skyscraper, at least seven stories in height, with a basement. It would be the first skyscraper in the city. The basement and first level would be dedicated to banking operations, while the second and third floors would be reserved for large companies seeking office space. The remainder would be occupied by bank offices.

By mid-December, the bank had decided on the building it desired to construct. Instead of a skyscraper, the bank opted for a one-story bank building with a basement and mezzanine constructed of granite and reinforced concrete. It would feature a polished marble base. During the renovation and repair, the roof would be constructed of reinforced slabs, and the interior, composed of skylights, would receive extensive restoration work, including the installation of bronze doors, mosaic tile floors, and marble and bronze bank fixtures. The building dimensions measured 40×87 feet, and it was estimated that the new building could be completed at a cost exceeding $100,000.

Work on the new bank building commenced on April 7, 1913, beginning with the demolition of the building to the north of the present bank building. The building adjacent to that, at 93 North Main Street, was remodeled to serve as a temporary bank location, a process scheduled to take 60 days. All furnishings and equipment were reused in the temporary quarters. The plan was executed with such urgency that the bank building was demolished to the extent that only the offices on the first level were spared to expedite the demolition process. The contract for the new Mansfield Savings Bank building was awarded to Feick & Son, a well-known contracting firm from Sandusky that had constructed numerous bank buildings in the past.

In the 1950s, the bank merged with 1st National, and the building was converted into the Trust Department. At that time, a false ceiling was installed, and the tellers’ cages were removed. In the early 1980s, the Trust Department relocated to 3rd and Main, and the building was listed for sale.

In 1986, Engwiler Properties purchased the structure, and it is hopeful that the building will be fully restored in the future, preserving a significant piece of Mansfield’s architectural heritage.

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