Fremont man buys former Ohio Brass founder's family mansion in Mansfield

Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal
·2 min read
A deer grazes in the front yard at 818 Marion Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The well-known landmark was up for auction.
A deer grazes in the front yard at 818 Marion Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The well-known landmark was up for auction.

The former Black family mansion at 818 Marion Ave. was sold Friday through the Richland County Sheriff's Office's sheriff's sales division.

Susan Hughes, who is in charge of sheriff's sales, said said the online sale was held starting at 8 a.m. and the home sold to Ashish Patel of Fremont for $361,200.

Hughes said the sale does not become final for up to 12 weeks.

"If anything happens in the next 4 to 12 weeks — for example, the defendant would pay what he owes — we would give the deposit back to the buyer," she said.

Hughes said there are many reasons why the sale could not be finalized in the coming weeks, including if the owner in default files for bankruptcy.

Friday, Hughes said she cannot see who all the bidders were nor how many people were bidding on the computer. The sales are run by RealAuction.

The home, most recently owned by antiques dealer Donald McLaughlin, has an appraised value of $285,000. Opening bid was set at $190,000. A deposit of $10,000 was required in advance.

The sprawling 26-room house built in 1932 by Frank B. Black, Ohio Brass founder, has 11.1 acres of land west of the Mansfield Art Center.

Prior to antiques dealer McLaughlin taking up residence at the majestic property, Joel and Margaret Black were the last occupants of the home, moving out in 1981.

According to News Journal archives, the interior of the French country house features numerous examples of so-called ocean liner deco and art deco. Also among interior features are a refrigerator that is a room in itself and a swimming pool the size of Woodland Club's pool.

Park National Bank brought the civil suit for nonpayment. A foreclosure action was granted by a judge in Richland County Common Pleas Court in May.

In 1982, the house was facing a wrecking ball. In December 1985 the property was up for sale at a sheriff's auction, according News Journal archives.

lwhitmire@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @lwhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Historic Mansfield mansion bought by Fremont man at sheriff's auction