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

Harley E. Warrick

(1924–2000)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

1. Harley E. Warrick Marker

Inscription. The last barn painter for the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, Harley Warrick painted thousands of barns with the familiar Mail Pouch Tobacco logo over his 48-year career. Mail Pouch transcended advertising to become a fixture of nostalgic Americana, emblazoning barns across fifteen states with the “Midwestern imperative,” Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco — Treat Yourself to the Best. Once a common form of advertising through the early 20th century, barn painting became the sole province of Mail Pouch in this region by mid-century. The Highway Beautification Act of 1965 restricted roadside advertising, and in 1969 Block Brothers curtailed its program, retaining Warrick to refinish barns for their historical value until his retirement in 1993.

Erected 2001 by The Ohio Bicentenial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Belmont Blue Eagle Committee and the Village of Belmont with the Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 5-7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1965.

Location. 40° 1.552′

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N, 81° 2.475′ W. Marker is in Belmont, Ohio, in Belmont County. It is on Brown Street near 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east. If you’re coming from Interstate-70, follow the small white “historical marker” signs when you get into town. Marker is at the old Belmont Elementary School, between the school and the gymnasium, in the Barn Painter Memorial Patio. It is hard to see from the street because it is the same color as the gymnasium bricks. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Belmont OH 43718, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Heroes Wall (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Honor and Memory (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gold Star Families Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ohio Native Plants (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (approx. 3 miles away); Ohio Buckeye Tree (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belmont.

Regarding Harley E. Warrick. Harley Warrick lived in Belmont, Ohio.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. The Passing of a Legend. Associated

The Barn Painter Harley E. Warrick Memorial Patio image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

2. The Barn Painter Harley E. Warrick Memorial Patio

Press article by Nancy Nussbaum. (Submitted on May 20, 2007.)

2. Chasing Mail Pouch Barns. Essay with photos by Eddie Robberts on TheBarnJournal.org website. (Submitted on May 20, 2007.)

3. Barn Painting. Listen to a December 2000 National Public Radio All Things Considered story about Harley Warrick and his life’s work. (Submitted on May 20, 2007.)

4. Harley Ernest Warrick at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on November 2, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Belmont Elementary School
The Belmont Elementary School, built in 1915, is now the Town Hall and space is leased to other tenants. The gymnasium is used as a community center. The marker is at the school.

— Submitted May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Harley E. Warrick image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Edwin C. Wade

3. Harley E. Warrick

Photo Taken of Harley Warrick by Ed Wade 35mm film camera Nikon F3

The Former Belmont Elementary School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

4. The Former Belmont Elementary School

This view is from the basketball court. Brown Street runs behind the building. The gymnasium is behind the tree on the left and the marker is between the two buildings. The two stone tablets on either side of the entrance above the small windows read, (left) Board of Education, E.W. Turner, Pres., C. R. McKeen, F. E. McConnell, J. W. Amos; J. M. Gordon, Clerk. (right) Erected 1915.

Mail Pouch Ad on Barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 29, 2009

5. Mail Pouch Ad on Barn

Off Ohio Route 16, about 1 mile NNE of Frazeysburg, Ohio.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 25, 2009

6. Mail Pouch Ad on Barn

Northern Coshocton County, Ohio.

Mail Pouch Ad on Commercial Block image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 25, 2009

7. Mail Pouch Ad on Commercial Block

Front Street, Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 20, 2010

8. Mail Pouch Ad on Barn

South of intersection of Ohio Route 7 and Baer Road (Township Road 152), about one mile south of Chester, Meigs County, Ohio.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6,798 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on August 31, 2022, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 17, 2009, by Edwin C. Wade of Huntington, West Virginia. 4. submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on December 14, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 6. submitted on March 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 7. submitted on March 20, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 8. submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.