Mansfield celebrates living history at Founders Day

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Mansfield takes a step back in time to the 1800s, celebrating the community’s beginnings at Founders Day on Saturday.

The Man House Museum, home of one of the city’s founders, Ralph Man, is the perfect place to set up for a day in the life of 1860s Texas.

“The event started because of the opening of the Man House Museum in 2021,” said Tom Leach, president of the Mansfield Historical Society and the Historical Museum advisory board. “Our desire was to have historical events to focus on the city and 19th century life.”

The free event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the museum, 604 W. Broad St., and feature crafts, chores and games from the 1800s.

“We try to add to it each year and change it up,” Leach said. “The blacksmith and potter are staples, this year we got a soap maker, a spinner and a petting zoo.

“We’ll be cooking there this year,” he said. “We have an author that will be there, quill pen writing, period live music, a violin player in the parlor, a faro game going on, a telegraph, silhouette artist, drop spinner, sewing, quilting and the garden club will be there. A period bee keeper, you can buy her honey, a laundress, period games and dancing.”

The soap maker, lace maker, bee keeper and potter will have items for sale, and there will be food trucks on site so visitors can spend the day.

Free shuttles will run from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. from downtown parking lots.

The event draws a diverse crowd, Leach said.

“You see people out there in their 80s and see people playing checkers under the tree listening to the music,” he said. “A lot of it is hands on so the kids can try it and do it. It’s focused on hands-on stuff for the kids to experience life in 1800s.

“It’s such a family-oriented event that’s free and it’s educational,” Leach said. “The history comes to life. They experience it by doing it. There’s something for everybody.”

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