Mansfield City Jail

	Richland County Jail


	A prime target f Grand Juries for many years and now a victim of demolition to clear the way for the present county building. Richland county's jail has served the county from 1880 to the late 60's The colored photo above shows how the county jail appeared around 1915 when arched lights spanned Virgin Alley (east Luther Place), Forney's horse drawn cabs furnished taxi service in the city, families traveled by horse and buggy and the barn to the rear of the jail housed the sheriff's horses and rigs used for fast runs out into the county on official duty. Like the first school building and church, the first jail was also located in the Mansfield blockhouse in the public square from 1813 to 1816. John Wallace served as the first sheriff of Richland County. Around 1827 a jail was built at the northeast corner of East Third and Water Sts. (now North Franklin). This brick building was later used as a dwelling until a parking lot was made on the site. Samuel G. Wolf was sheriff when the East Third St. jail was built. At 12:26 PM on Friday, may 31, 1878 Mansfielders witnessed the last local execution when Edward Webb was hanged in the jail yard for murder. Although admittance tickets were issued for the selected witnesses, a mob demolished the fence surrounding the gallows so that everyone present could see the execution. In 1879 it was decided that the East Third St. jail was inadequate and too far from the recently built courthouse so the county commissioners looked to the south of the courthouse for land on which to construct a jail.	The property adjacent to the courthouse on Virgin Alley (East Luther Place) and fronting on East (not South) Diamond was owned by several families including Seiberts' , General Brinkerhoff, and the Wise's. Seibert's forced the commissioners to threaten land condemnation but finally settled out of court for $2,600 for their 30-foot frontage and house. Then city council and Mansfield citizens fought the closing of Virgin Alley because the street had been dedicated to the city by founders, gen. James Hedges and Jacob Newman. Mansfielders invited the county to condemn the alley and pay into the city treasury comparable amount paid to Seiberts. Settlement for all land was finally accomplished by Jan. 31, 1880 and contracts were awarded totaling $41,042 for the new combined jail and sheriff's residence. Handcock and Dow had one of the major contracts for excavation and the stone masonry work. Diebold Safe and Lock Co., of Canton installed the steel cell blocks and ornamental iron work. All houses were cleared off the site and ground was broke on Feb. 12, 1880 with construction scheduled to be completed by Dec. 15 of the same year. Sheriff James Richie elected in 1878 was the first sheriff to occupy the new residence and operate the jail.