Center Panel Since 1986, visitors of the Local History Room of the Barberton Public Library have been greeted by a colorful, five-panel stained glass window set that once hung in O.C. Barber’s opulent, 50,000 square foot mansion. The set, manufactured by Tobey Furniture Company of Chicago, was originally installed at the landing of the mansion’s grand marble staircase overlooking the lawn at the rear of the estate. Though it is unknown whether Barber commissioned this particular design specifically for the mansion, the large windows were indeed a distinctive showpiece and one of the many impressive features of his Barberton home. The panels, with a height of over six and a half feet, depict a scene from the Greek mythological story of Atalanta and Milanion. According to legend, Atalanta resisted marriage and other conventions of womanhood, yet her beauty and charm won her the affections of many men. Hoping to rid herself of male suitors, she challenged the men to a foot race. The prize for winning was her hand in marriage, the penalty for losing death. After consulting the goddess Aphrodite, Milanion entered the race with a plan to place golden apples along the route. In the center panel of the window set, Atalanta stoops to pick up one of the apples, unwittingly allowing Milanion to win the race and, as the story goes, earn the right to marry her. In 1965, the windows and other furnishings were sold at a tag sale held prior to the demolition of the mansion. The entire five-panel window set was purchased by the owner of the former Co-Op grocery on 31st St. and later displayed at the store for several years. In 1976, the windows were purchased by the City of Barberton at the urging of Mayor Lawrence Maurer. The set, which was in need of repair at the time of purchase, was stored at the water treatment plant until the necessary work could be completed and a suitable location for display found. The Barberton Historical Society was instrumental in helping to raise funds for the restoration of the windows, the cost of which was $7,000. In 1986, the beautifully refurbished set was mounted in the Local History Room of the remodeled Barberton Public Library where they remain on display. Today, a century after the construction of the mansion, the windows serve as a lasting reminder of the grandness of the Barber estate. The Library is also fortunate to have received the gift of two additional stained glass panels from a set of three that once hung in the mansion’s breakfast room. The mythological characters in the windows represent morning, midday and evening and are on display on the main floor of the Library in Teen Central. To see the beautiful mansion windows and other treasures of Barberton’s past, stop by the Barberton Public Library today!