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

Harley E. Warrick

(1924–2000)

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.)

Marker series. This marker is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History

Harley E. Warrick image. Click for full size.

By J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

2. Harley E. Warrick

Close-up of marker detail.

Connection marker series.

Location. 40° 1.55′ N, 81° 2.467′ W. Marker is in Belmont, Ohio, in Belmont County. Marker is on Brown Street near 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. 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. Marker is in this post office area: Belmont OH 43718, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mile Marker (approx. 3 miles away); Morristown (approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Mile Marker (approx. 3.1 miles away); State of Ohio (approx. 3.1 miles away); Watt Car and Wheel Company (approx. 7.3 miles away).

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

Related marker.

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

By J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

3. The Barn Painter Harley E. Warrick Memorial Patio

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

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

Categories. • 20th Century •

By Edwin C. Wade

4. 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.

By J. J. Prats, May 15, 2007

5. 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.

By William Fischer, Jr., November 29, 2009

6. Mail Pouch Ad on Barn
Off Ohio Route 16, about 1 mile NNE of Frazeysburg, Ohio.

By William Fischer, Jr., October 25, 2009

7. Mail Pouch Ad on Barn
Northern Coshocton County, Ohio.

By William Fischer, Jr., October 25, 2009

8. Mail Pouch Ad on Commercial Block
Front Street, Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio.

By William Fischer, Jr., March 20, 2010

9. 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 June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,936 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on April 17, 2009, by Edwin C. Wade of Huntington, West Virginia. 5. submitted on May 20, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 6. submitted on December 14, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 7. submitted on March 16, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 8. submitted on March 20, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 9. submitted on March 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.