When I posted on Facebook that I was going to Mansfield, Ohio, and asked people what the number one thing to see in Mansfield would be–I got no replies.  Well, I got one, but it was about Massilon, not Mansfield.

High time to drag Mansfield out of that slough of anonymity. Because there ARE reasons to visit Mansfield Ohio–several. Many of these reasons are inspired by books and movies–right down our alley here at A Traveler’s Library.

The Shawshank Trail The number one attraction in Mansfield these days migrated to Central Ohio from Hollywood.  The immensely popular film Shawshank Redemption, filmed in Mansfield and surrounding areas, affected the town in amazing ways. Within a few days, I will be writing about that film here at A Traveler’s Library,  and about what happens when Hollywood Comes to Town at Reel Life With Jane.  But for now, I just want to mention that if you’re a fan (obsessive or otherwise) of the Tim Robbins/Morgan Freeman movie, you will want to check out all the locations used.  I know that when I watched the movie after touring the Shawshank Trail, it added great texture to my experience.

The Oho State Reformatory If you’re on the Shawshank Trail, you’ll naturally visit the Ohio State Reformatory for their two-hour Hollywood tour.  At this now-closed prison, you’ll learn about the filming of Shawshank, but also about Airforce One(where the prison served as a Russian prison), and have a glimpse at the scenery for some lesser-pedigree movies made their as well. If your interest is more historic than film-ic, the foundation that now owns the decommissioned prison has a tour for you, as well. The 1886 prison’s front building looks like a castle from Transylvania with its late Victorian Gothic (and a couple of other styles mixed in). Inside, you’ll learn how the high ceilings and the I-kid-you-not Gothic arched windows and pillars that look like they were transported from Notre Dame all were calculated to make the incoming prisioners think higher thoughts.  The idealism eventually gave way to cruelty and revenge, packing two and sometimes more prisoners in 7-foot wide cells stacked 6 stories high or throwing them in “the hole” for total dark solitary confinement. Ultimately the inhumane prison was shut down, and today the foundation struggles to make enough money on tours and events (don’t miss Glamour in the Slammer–a bridal show!) to keep the roof repaired and slow the rusting away of iron bars.

Because there is no heating in the building, tours are curtailed in the winter.

Downtown Mansfield

Like many mid-western cities, Mansfield has fallen upon hard times.  All of the major industries that once headquartered there and supported the community have slipped away. But this is an old town, and the downtown retains much of its Victorian era charm. Across the street from the Central Park town square, one of the most popular restaurants in town, Cafe on Main provides a Shawshankwich and plent of other tasty food. Look through a peephole that owner Ed Pickens has provided to zoom in on the very park bench where James Whitmore sat during a scene in THE movie. Nearby, a candy shop, The Squirrel Den,makes little scenes from the movie in chocolate and sells chocolate “prison bars.” But its not just “cute” their home made candy is unique and delicious.

But my favorite place, of course, involves reading. This line of old neon signs on Main Street introduces two. The old fashioned City News is great, and of course I had to pay a visit to Main Street Books, a lovely independent bookstore where you can stock up on books about Ohio and by Ohioans. I’ll read a book while sipping my cup of green tea with fig from The Twisted Fig, a tea shop within a bakery that makes a cake in the shape of the prison.

Because my interest in books and movies also includes theater, I was thrilled to visit the 80-year-old theater now known as the Renaissance Performing Arts Center, and particularly delighted to learn that because of a benefactor, it is one of the few theaters in the country that can continue to run in the black even in bad economic times.  It is a gem in a town of this size, presenting touring companies, original shows, musical entertainment and more.  Yes, it is also on your Shawshank Trail, because the movie premiered here, although the big stars didn’t make it back to Mansfield for the small town premiere. But back in the day, it also hosted the premiere of the movie  The Rains Came, based on Louis Bromfield’s book. See the entire history of the Renaissance Theater here.

Malabar Farm: Home of an Author

I’ve already talked both here about Malabar Farm and Bromfield the writer, and at the Attainable-Sustainableblog about Bromfield and sustainable agriculture, so I’ll just add a little tourism tip here for foodies and movie fans.

Don’t miss the gift shop in the Visitor’s Center and definitely visit the Malabar Farm Restaurant. In both places you can sample and buy local produce and goodies like maple sugar and maple syrup.

Next June, one of the many events at the Malabar State Farm draws the sons of two of Louis Bromfield’s Hollywood buddies to a day called Hollywood Returns to Malabar.  When I visited with Sylvia Burskey who showed me around, said they had commitments from Stephen Bogart, son of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and from Tyrone Power, Jr.,  the fourth (or seventh according to whom you believe) of an acting line of men named Tyrone Power. Tyrone Power, Jr. is just as scrumptiously handsome as his father, but has not been as blessed in his Hollywood career.  Bogart also is involved in the entertainment world. Please do take a look at the Malabar State Farm web site, because when you go to Mansfield, as a traveler who reads, you will want to visit here.

Spooky Stuff

Finally, if you are looking for ghosts–you should be able to find them in several places around Mansfield, starting at Malabar State Park. Malabar Farm. There’s a great horror story connected with one of the houses at Malabar Farm–a young woman murdered her whole family. How does that sound? On the other hand, people spending time in Louis Bromfield’s Big House, his families residence which was also filled with a pack of six Boxer dogs, swear those dog’s spirits are still around.  Bromfield himself claimed to have been visited by the spirit of the first of his boxers who died.

To go seeking ghosts of the two or four-legged type, check the events calendar for Night Haunt.

The Bissman Building. The current owner is the fifth generation of his family to own this once-beautiful building, so there are five generations of stories from the various businesses that occupied the 5-story building, built in 1886.  You can arrange through the Haunted Bissman Building web site for special paranormal tours, as well as visiting to learn more about its use in the movie Shawshank Redemption. (Even if your interest runs to architecture rather than spirits, I recommend a visit to this very special building.

The Ohio State Reformatory. Finally, you can choose a ghost tour at the reformatory–the overnight ghost hunts are so popular that they are booked months in advance.  Check the Prison website (look under Ghost Walks) for upcoming events and available tour dates. So now you know why you should visit the central Ohio town of Mansfield if you are a movie and book lover and like to explore off the beaten track.

Disclaimer: My  1 1/2 day trip was sponsored by the Mansfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau,and as usual, I only wrote about it because I thought you would be interested.  The photos here are all mine, and I hope that you will respect the copyright.

Are you a Shawshank fan? Do you like ghost tours? Let us know what sounds best about Mansfield to you.