Ch. 6 - Ohio Indian Trails, The Ohio Canals & Weather Wisdom

Ohio Indian Trails, The Ohio Canals and Weather Wisdom

The Standing Stone Trail

c. 1933. As reproduced in Frank N. Wilcox and William A. McGill, Ohio Indian Trails (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2015), color section following page 106.

“The experiences which led up to my writing ‘Ohio Indian Trails,’ began with various trips around the State with Alfred Mewett...On one occasion, we traveled west and down the old Miami and Erie Canal to Cincinnati, and reached Marietta part of the way by picturesque river packet. Another trip took in all the Muskingum and Mahoning valleys. I found my interest in Ohio history growing, especially that part dealing with the old Indian paths... At this time, I was quite disgusted with creative art, but these experiences actually provided an ultimate stimulus to return to it.” Starting in 1930, Wilcox began focusing on research for his first book Ohio Indian Trails, a New York Times bestseller, which led him towards a more historical, archaeological, and topographical mindset. He was racing time trying to document, in writing and in drawing, the historic Native Americans in Ohio before urbanization completely took over. Wilcox was also attempting to unveil what was positive about the American frontier, explaining the diplomacy and commerce of the trails, as well as document historic events and notable figures.

Boat in Lock at the Miami-Erie-Wabash Canal, Ohio

c. 1934 Watercolor on paper 18.5 x 24 inches

“When the University was sponsoring private historical research, I went with Mr. Frary through local regions celebrated in early history. Fortunately I was asked, for my contribution, to talk at the Old Red Lock at our ancestral farm. This may have been responsible for future study of the Ohio Canal System, upon which I was to do considerable writing.” Another pictorial survey by Wilcox, The Ohio Canals was published after the author’s death in 1969. Wilcox lamented for the romanticized past, stimulated by memories of his childhood. He researched and recorded the era of the Ohio canals through narrative and artwork.

“When the Days Begin to Lengthen...”

As reproduced in Frank N. Wilcox, Weather Wisdom (Cleveland, Ohio, 1949), 1.

“I have always felt that the visible evidences of weather to come were more apparent out there on the farm than elsewhere, even upon the flat prairie. I imagine this is due to the fact the atmospheric tones of the valley depths were added to those extending to the sweeping horizon. All the subtle differences in contrast, such as the depth of shadow on snowfields at varying distances, may have been subconsciously noted and calculated by observers seemingly so weatherwise.” -Out in Brecksville In 1949, Wilcox published a limited edition, only 50 copies, of Weather Wisdom, which encompassed a series of 24 Brecksville silkscreen prints accompanied by narrative and commentary. Wilcox was consistently interested in weather and atmospheric effects, challenging himself to faithfully capture it in his art. Later in his life, he was able to reflect upon his years of visits to Brecksville, throughout the different seasons, and devote that effort into a book he could write, illustrate, and publish.