From St. John's Messenger, vol. 54, no. 6, June, 1954, page 2.
The picture of the 199-year-old house, which served as St. John's parsonage for many years, has disappeared from sight and will remain but a memory. Since it was razed last month to make way for the new parish house we thought it might be well to have our members and friends see it once again as it was. The house was built by Dr. William Bushnell in 1835 and was modeled after old Connecticut estates which Dr. Bushnell remembered from his childhood. According to the article in the Mansfield News-Journal under date of May 8, 1954, John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, visited regularly in Dr. Bushnell's home. Shortly after Dr. Bushnell's death the home was purchased by St. John's Evangelical Church (now the Evangelical and Reformed Church). It stood at the corner of what is now Park Avenue East and Franklin Avenue, and was moved to its present location where it served as the minister's residence for many years. In more recent years it was used to house the nursery and primary departments of our Sunday church school and provided the living quarters for the caretaker of the church property.
That the history o the house was well known throughout the State of Ohio became evident when a letter arrived from Mrs. Howard M. Fawcett of Columbus, inquiring whether the columns were for sale and whom to contact. The letter was brought to the attention of the Mansfield Wrecking company.
And so with the going of this rather famous landmark, we ponder the truth expressive in the line on the front page, "Only One live to Live."
