Mansfield’s Central Park and downtown business district looked brilliant with floral colors during the city’s bicentennial year in 2008. But, in 2009, there was virtually nothing. City finances were tight, and there was no organized effort in place to tackle what the city could not afford to do.
Long-time city resident and community activist Pam Siegenthaler was troubled when all that she saw in city planters and flower beds was trash and cigarette butts. She consulted with officials from the Downtown Mansfield community improvement group and scheduled a meeting with then-Mayor Don Culliver. “We told him that if we expected businesses and people to move to our city, we had to do a lot better than this,” Siegenthaler said.
Siegenthaler was in her final year as president of the Richland County Foundation. She had served in this capacity since 1994. Just before that, she had been a board member for the Mansfield City Schools for five years. She had made a lot of contacts in these roles and learned some things about building bridges and generating funds.
Siegenthaler first developed a relationship with Jennifer Kime and Jamie Thompson at Downtown Mansfield. Together, they contacted service clubs, merchants, garden clubs and other civic organizations for help. Many responded with donations and, most importantly, volunteer time. The designs for the floral planting were provided by Justin Marotta, while his Possum Run Greenhouse provided the plants at cost. The city was supportive of preparing planters and handling watering and some of the maintenance. It is a recipe that has been essentially followed to this day.
There were about 50 downtown planters in 2010, many of which were part of the original streetscape project. Now, there are 101 planters with several additional beds. The group that began this effort became the city’s Beautification Sector. Mansfield in Bloom now plays a significant role in ensuring that Central Park and much of the balance of the downtown is coated with floral colors during the warm weather months.
Siegenthaler is a member of the Mansfield in Bloom steering committee, serving as the lead person for the floral effort. She admits to occasional summer walks through the downtown to check on the quality of the plants and the watering.
This year, the downtown planters will include 1,000 plants. These plantings will feature mixtures of red dragon wing begonias, purple fountain grass, ipomea sweet potato vines (both green and dark burgundy), red calliope large dark geraniums, spiderwort, blue salvia farinacea, and vinca vine major. The 40 downtown hanging baskets will feature red dragon wing begonias, vinca vines, and white Scaevola.
The watering, which includes the addition of some fertilizer for the downtown flowers, is being handled on alternating weeks by the city and Newhope Industries.
Siegenthaler said a variety of different types of plants had been used over the years, but the most prevalent dominant color has been red. She added the hanging baskets have been the project of the Richland Community Development Group with support from sponsors.
Siegenthaler was born in Dayton but grew up in Ada, Ohio. Her father, who was a Navy pilot during WW II had an insulation and home Improvement business in Lima. Her memories of flowers take her back to gardens planted by her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
“I always enjoyed the flowers and did my share of picking them,” she said with a quiet laugh.
She earned a degree in business management from Miami of Ohio University. She got a job at Lazarus in Columbus, where she met her future husband, Tom Siegenthaler, from Mansfield. The couple was married in 1966 and located in Mansfield, where Tom eventually took over operation of the shoe store started by his grandfather. The Siegenthaler shoe store was located in a since-demolished building on North Main Street where a portion of the municipal parking lot is now located. The couple has two daughters, Geneva Cummins, and Claire Proto, both located in the Mansfield area.
Pam went to work for the Fernyak family at Mansfield Typewriter in 1978 and remained there for more than a decade. She recalls being part of the transition from typewriters to desktop computers. That transition involved the introduction of the Computerized Power Typewriter, which she said had word processing and storage capabilities. Clients could save time and money by not having to recreate often used templates such as wills. A unit cost $15,000, she said.
She earned a Masters degree in Business Administration in 1995. Her level of community engagement has been consistent since coming to Mansfield, including current involvement on the governing boards at Richland County Children Services, OSU-Mansfield and Third Street Family Health Services.
When reflecting on her time and efforts in Mansfield, Siegenthalerfirst said she has always appreciated Mansfield for its small town feel with big city amenities. She added she has learned to value the contributions of every person, no matter the level of earnings or education.
“I appreciate what everyone can do, whether they are wealthy and contribute to a soup kitchen, or are struggling and must eat at that kitchen,”she concluded.
Tom Brennan is the retired editor of the News Journal and current chairman of the Mansfield in Bloom steering committee. Mansfield in Bloom is in its 3rd year, working as a catalyst to improve aspects of Mansfield that include physical appearance, environmental practices, historic preservation and physical activities. If you are interested in volunteering to help with Mansfield in Bloom floral projects or other activities, contact Roberta Perry at Roberta@chooserichland.com or at 419-755-7234.