Portsmouth in Scioto County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Julia Marlowe
⎯⎯⎯
Portsmouth Shoe-Steels
⎯⎯⎯
The Portsmouth Spartans
⎯⎯⎯
The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941

Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History/2000 Feet of Art

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

1. Julia Marlowe / Portsmouth Shoe-Steels / The Portsmouth Spartans / The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941

Inscription. Julia Marlowe Julia Marlowe was a world renowned Shakespearian actress during the late 1800's and early 1900's. She was born in England in 1865 and lived three years of her childhood in Portsmouth in the Front Street townhouse shown in the mural. The townhouse has been restored and in recent years occupied by Tom Russell Glass and Mirror Company. Many of Julia Marlowe's costumes are on display at the 1810 House Museum. Go to www.1810house.org for more information/tours. If you look over your right shoulder, you can still see the house where Julia Marlowe lived.

Portsmouth Shoe-Steels Semi-professional football began in Portsmouth in 1910. At least five different semi-pro teams were organized over the next 20 years. The Portsmouth Norfolk and Western team competed in 1919. In 1920, it became known as the Portsmouth Smoke-House, (changing ownership from a railroad to a local tobacco store). In 1926, the team was purchased and became known as the Portsmouth Presidents, and then sold again in 1927 and renamed the Portsmouth Shoe-Steels. The Portsmouth Shoe-Steels was the last in the succession of semi-professional

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football teams in the Portsmouth area. Jim Thorpe, world famous amateur and professional athlete, was player coach in 1927.

The Portsmouth Spartans The Portsmouth Spartans were members of the National Football League from 1930 - 1933. The action depicted was taken from the Columbus Ohio State Journal in 1932. It shows Glenn "Press” Presnell, an All-American from the University of Nebraska and former star of the Ironton Tanks, scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at Portsmouth's Universal Stadium (now called Spartan Stadium) located at the end of James Street, Portsmouth. The Spartans were victorious in that game by a score of 19-0. It became known as "The Iron Man Game,” when Spartan coach George "Potsy” Clark refused to use a substitute to protest Green Bay being named champions of the NFL in 1931 in a disputed ruling by NFL President Joe Carr. In 1934 the team was sold and became the Detroit Lions.

The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941 The Greyhound Bus Station was built in 1941 and served Portsmouth for 45 years. Aside from showing one of the earliest examples of art deco in the Portsmouth

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

2. Julia Marlowe / Portsmouth Shoe-Steels / The Portsmouth Spartans / The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941

area, the bus station served as a sign of the time. Note the poster on the telephone pole in front of the station advertising that Clyde McCoy will be appearing in Portsmouth. McCoy was a local orchestra leader in the 1930's and 40's who enjoyed national fame. Gas rationing during World War II forced many people to travel by bus and since this station was in the center of town it was the popular place to be. (Marker Number 8.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Sports • Women. In addition, it is included in the Ohio, Portsmouth, Floodwall Murals series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 38° 43.849′ N, 83° 0.21′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Ohio, in Scioto County. It is on Front Street just west of Market Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 445 Front St, Portsmouth OH 45662, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

Julia Marlowe mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

3. Julia Marlowe mural

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Millbrook Park / The Shoe Industry, 1869-1977 / Early 1900's Streetcar / Government Square, 1919 (here, next to this marker); 1937 Ohio River Flood Mark on Bigg's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Tenth Street Station / Market Square / Portsmouth 1903 (within shouting distance of this marker); Roy Rogers / 1937 Flood / Branch Rickey / Kentucky Friends (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Portsmouth and the Ohio River (about 400 feet away); Chillicothe Street, 1940's / Steel Industry, 1870-1980 / Clarence Holbrook Carter / Carl Ackerman (about 400 feet away); Stagecoach / Hanging Rock Region / Ohio and Erie Canal / Early Industries (about 500 feet away); Progress in Education / Shawnee State Expansion / Vern Riffe

Portsmouth Shoe-Steels mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

4. Portsmouth Shoe-Steels mural

(about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Other markers no longer nearby. Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 500 feet away but has been

The Portsmouth Spartans mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

5. The Portsmouth Spartans mural

replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941 mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

6. The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941 mural

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 711 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Julia Marlowe⎯⎯⎯Portsmouth Shoe-Steels⎯⎯⎯The Portsmouth Spartans⎯⎯⎯The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941

Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History/2000 Feet of Art

Julia Marlowe
⎯⎯⎯
Portsmouth Shoe-Steels
⎯⎯⎯
The Portsmouth Spartans
⎯⎯⎯
The Greyhound Bus Station, 1941