A 90-year-old Mansfield Legend – The true story of the Lindbergh kidnapping ransom-note and Mansfield Cross Trail restaurant

One of Mansfield’s most enduring legends had its birth about this time 90 years ago. It involves one of the world’s most notorious kidnappings and a former Mansfield restaurant that some folks mistakenly believe still stands.

There was no bigger news story in the world on March 1, 1932 than the tragic kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr. in Hopewell, NJ. The 20-month-old son of one of the most recognized couples on the face of the earth was mysteriously taken from his upstairs bedroom. At the time, there were few clues except pieces of a wooden ladder, footprints, a baby blanket, and a ransom note partially written in red ink.

Interest in the case seized the nation and dominated headlines for months. One week later, on March 8, Mansfield became part of the hysteria. The Elmira Star-Gazette published a story about a ransom letter addressed in attention-grabbing red ink that was intercepted at the Elmira Post Office and addressed to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh.

The Star-Gazette, the most widely read daily paper in Mansfield and all of the Twin Tiers, even published the contents of the ransom note. The note read, in part, “you send representatives with $500,000 in $20 bills wrapped in newspaper to Mansfield, Pa. and your representatives will meet ours at the Cross Trail Restaurant. We will leave baby three hours later in the same place providing there is no queer acting people inside or out. Be sure to be there at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 7. “

The ransom-note coldly, and cruelly, ended by saying the baby was crying.

The Postmaster at Elmira immediately contacted the New York State Police, who in turn contacted the Pennsylvania State Police in both Galeton and Mansfield as well as the Mansfield police and the Sheriff’s office. All of them sent officers to conduct a stake-out of the Cross Trail to apprehend the would-be kidnappers.

Although the police were undercover, it seems they weren’t alone. According to a newspaper story days later, more than a hundred people, including some of Mansfield’s most respected citizens, also showed up to conduct their own stake-out. Perhaps they were the queer acting people the ransom note warned of.

There were so many undercover watchers, that nobody was really under-cover. The supposed kidnappers never showed at the Cross Trail. The only people present were the few people in the community who hadn’t heard of the stake-out and were just ordinary, but much-watched, customers.

The other myth that still persists today despite repeated corrections is that the Cross Trail Restaurant associated with the Lindbergh ransom note still stands on West Wellsboro Street.

At the time of the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Cross Trail was located on the west side of South Main Street where the Mansfield Borough building now stands. It also housed the bus stop and was later Ernie’s and the Dutch Pantry before being torn down.

We were very pleased to have an capacity-stretching crowd here to greet Jim McMullen and his presentation on the Tioga Division of the Erie Railroad. In fact, the crowd was so large, he kindly did the presentation twice.

We had all the chairs filled and people still left standing, more than 60 for each session. Thanks to Jim for sharing his extensive knowledge, as well as his photos and artifacts, on the subject.

The event was hosted jointly by The History Center and the Friends of the Mansfield Free Public Library. Gary Butters of Arnot Building Supply had the Railroad Depot building open for visitors and gifted a brand new 18-inch Novelty Works ruler to all attendees.

Thanks also to Dr. Michele Whitecraft's M.U. class on Social Studies Methods who created a railroad display beside our display of Jim's books and items.

To enhance your museum visit, we have created a series of pictorial scavenger hunts. Each page has 10 to 14 items to find throughout the rooms and display areas. It's fun to hunt them down. Stop in if you have a few minutes. Bring a friend and turn the hunt into a competition.

After two long Pandemic years, we hope that the High School reunions can start again. If you are planning a reunion, consider a casual afternoon Meet & Greet at the History Center's Museum of Us. In an informal environment, you can chat with your friends, watch a slide show of Mansfield's historic photos, and find traces of yourself, your friends, and your family. Many of our exhibits are geared to those who grew up here. The Blue & Gold Room is full of MHS sports mementos. The pictorial display includes YOU along with all the other MHS graduates in its first hundred years.

For the New Year. Consider a gift membership. Members will receive our 40 page printed journal by mail 4 to 6 times a year with new articles that have never been researched before and outstanding photos to illustrate. Share your love of the Mansfield area with your friends and family.

It's the only way we can continue offering our important services to the community.

The next issue of Voices from the Archives is in preparation. It will be forty pages of articles about the lives and activities of our town. Be sure your membership is current, so you don't miss any.

Family $50

Individual $35

Senior (Over 65) $25

Business Level $100

Lifetime $500

MHS Class Memorial $200

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The History Center

83 N. Main Street

Mansfield PA 16933

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