Roy Rogers, also, 1937 Flood, also, Branch Rickey, also, Kentucky Friends. Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History/2000 Feet of Art.
Roy Rogers. This mural shows the famous "King of the Cowboys” on his horse, rigger. Roy Rogers appeared in 104 films from 1935 to 1959. His final film, "Macintosh and TJ” was released in 1975, Roy Rogers' boyhood home can be seen on Roy Rogers Road and is designated with an historical marker. An annual Roy Rogers Festival is held every summer in downtown Portsmouth. Cowboy stars, memorabilia and food are only part of what is enjoyed on this exciting weekend!
Directions to Roy Rogers Boyhood home: Go north on U. S. 23 to Lucasville, turn left onto S. R. 348. Go 3.5 miles, then turn right onto Mohawk Dnive and go 2 mile. Turn right onto Roy Rogers Road and go straight to the Historical Marker, The house is on a small hill. A nice place to take pictures.
1937 Flood. This mural is a northerly view of Chillicothe Street during the devastating 1937 flood. The right border shows residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. In the top border are long lines of residents waiting for water at Kinney Spring. The left border tells the heart-breaking story of the only fatality of the 1937 flood. The boat moving the Tomlin family to higher ground, capsized, emptying its human cargo into the flooding waters. All victims were pulled to safety except Bessie Tomlin, seen holding her 18-month-old baby Alberta Tomlin (Parker), Portsmouth resident. Sea Scouts shown in the bottom border were pressed into service where needed during this disaster.
Shawnee State University Professor, Dr John Lorentz has created an award winning documentary film about the 1937 Flood. Copies of "River Voices" are available for purchase by contacting the university's book store, (740) 351-3155, or visiting the Scioto County Welcome Center gift shop.
Branch Rickey. Baseball immortal Branch Rickey, as he appeared at the height of his illustrious career, was chosen to be depicted in this mural and features Mr. Rickey signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 thereby becoming the first major league baseball team to break the color barrier. Also featured is a picture of the Portsmouth Red Birds in 1938, a minor league franchise owned by the Saint Louis Cardinals when Branch Rickey was the Cardinal's general manager. Other references are made to Rickey's character including his role as a baseball player and manager, educator and orator. Mr. Rickey was born near Stockdale, geared on Duck Run northwest of Portsmouth and received his early education in Lucasville. An historical marker on Duck Run designates his boyhood home.
Kentucky Friends. In the early 1900's, Kentucky ferry boats provided transportation to and from Kentucky. In 1927 the U. S. Grant Bridge, shown in the distance and shrouded by heavy fog, became the preferred means of travel across the river. In 1932 the George Washington passenger train, also seen in this mural, began its service running a route between Cincinnati, Ohio and Washington D.C.
Jesse Stuart, poet laureate of Kentucky, and world-renowned author is featured on the right. Among his sixty published volumes are Taps for Private Tussie, The Thread that Runs So True, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow and God's Oddling. He loved Portsmouth, taught school here, and the quotation shown in this mural eloquently expresses his feeling for our city.
Roy Rogers
This mural shows the famous "King of the Cowboys” on his horse, rigger. Roy Rogers
appeared in 104 films from 1935 to 1959. His final film, "Macintosh and TJ” was
released in 1975, Roy Rogers' boyhood home can be seen on Roy Rogers Road and
is designated with an historical marker. An annual Roy Rogers Festival is held every
summer in downtown Portsmouth. Cowboy stars, memorabilia and food are only part
of what is enjoyed on this exciting weekend!
Directions to Roy Rogers
Boyhood home: Go north on
U. S. 23 to Lucasville, turn left
onto S. R. 348. Go 3.5 miles,
then turn right onto Mohawk
Dnive and go 2 mile. Turn right
onto Roy Rogers Road and
go straight to the Historical
Marker, The house is on a small
hill. A nice place to take
pictures.
1937 Flood
This mural is a northerly view of Chillicothe Street during the devastating 1937 flood.
The right border shows residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. In the top
border are long lines of residents waiting for water at Kinney Spring. The left border tells
the heart-breaking story of the only fatality of the 1937 flood. The boat moving the
Tomlin family to higher ground, capsized, emptying its human cargo into the flooding
waters. All victims were pulled to safety except Bessie
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Tomlin, seen holding her
18-month-old baby Alberta Tomlin (Parker), Portsmouth resident. Sea Scouts shown in
the bottom border were pressed into service where needed during this disaster.
Shawnee State University
Professor, Dr John Lorentz
has created an award
winning documentary film
about the 1937 Flood.
Copies of "River Voices"
are available for purchase
by contacting the
university's book store,
(740) 351-3155, or visiting
the Scioto County Welcome
Center gift shop.
Branch Rickey
Baseball immortal Branch Rickey, as he appeared at the height of his illustrious career,
was chosen to be depicted in this mural and features Mr. Rickey signing Jackie
Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 thereby becoming the first major league
baseball team to break the color barrier. Also featured is a picture of the Portsmouth
Red Birds in 1938, a minor league franchise owned by the Saint Louis Cardinals when
Branch Rickey was the Cardinal's general manager. Other references are made to
Rickey's character including his role as a baseball player and manager, educator and
orator. Mr. Rickey was born near Stockdale, geared on Duck Run northwest of
Portsmouth and received his early education in Lucasville. An historical marker on
Duck Run designates his boyhood home.
ferry boats provided transportation to and from Kentucky.
In 1927 the U. S. Grant Bridge, shown in the distance and shrouded by heavy fog,
became the preferred means of travel across the river. In 1932 the George Washington
passenger train, also seen in this mural, began its service running a route between
Cincinnati, Ohio and Washington D.C.
Jesse Stuart, poet laureate of Kentucky, and world-renowned author is featured on
the right. Among his sixty published volumes are Taps for Private Tussie, The Thread
that Runs So True, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow and God's Oddling. He loved
Portsmouth, taught school here, and the quotation shown in this mural eloquently
expresses his feeling for our city. (Marker Number 9.)
Location. 38° 43.85′ N, 83° 0.271′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Ohio, in Scioto County. Marker is on Front Street just east of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 Front St, Portsmouth OH 45662, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 313 times since then and 66 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.
