Cilflllilllllfv llllllllilllligsklltog NE of the first important projects after the opening of our school was the placing of mural decorations in the entranceway. The original conception of these murals was of a series of panels that would give in a broad way the development of transportation in Cincinnati during the last one hundred and fifty years. Many sketches were made, two or three times as many as would be needed. These were studied with the purpose of finding those that would work up into a decorative ensemble, and yet permit each panel to be complete and satisfying. The entrance to Western Hills High School is simple and dignified, and lends itself readily to a scheme of decoration. The tones selected by the architects for the pilasters and ceiling are in harmony with the light colors selected by the artist. It is best to consider the panels in chronological order. When the observer faces the main 'door of the auditorium, the first panel is the one to his right. It shows the broad sweep of the Ohio River. The foreground is Ohio soil, but the Kentucky side is visible. Fort Washington is shown in the middle of the panel. Crouching behind a tree on a hill is an Indian. watching several laden pack mules as they climb a trail from the river's bank. Here and there on the river are fiatboats. The date is about 1790. The next panel to the right is of the period of the early settlers. Again the observer is on Ohio soil, with the Ohio River in view, but not dominat- ing the scene. A covered wagon is in the middle foreground, and to the right is a log cabin. Some figures of settlers are shown in the panel. The Kentucky hills appear in the distance. The period is that of 1790 to 1820. Continuing to the right, the observer comes to the third panel, which shows a scene characteristic of Cincinnati for about one hundred years. The Miami and Erie Canal was completed in 1828, and for many years was one of the dominating factors of Cincinnati's transportation. While many of our people remember the canal, they knew it only after the character of its traffic had changed. It is difiicult for us who live in days of rapid transportation to realize the influence of the canal in the old days. when roads were scarce and the steam railroad unknown. As the canal has disappeared within the city limits, this panel will probably be the first reminder that many students of Western Hills High School will have of an old system of transportation, once very important to Cincinnati. The panel next in order is directly across from the one just mentioned. It represents a period after 1843, when the first railroad in Cincinnati was built. The old-fashioned locomotive and train in this panel have little resemblance to those of today, while the coaches and wagons shown have made way for the motor cars and trucks of our own day and age. The fifth panel shows a later period, and its principal feature is the inclined plane, one of the picturesque features of Cincinnati for many decades, but one that apparently is destined to disappear from the scene. While the inclined planes of Cincinnati have given a characteristic touch to Cincinnati for a long time, the period shown in the Hfth panel is that of about 1890. The sixth and last panel shows the Cincinnati of today, with its river and bridges, its motor cars, boats, trains, and airplanes. The six panels combine to form a fitting decoration with a central theme, yet each panel is complete in itself. It is the hope of the artist. Mrs. Francis Wiley Faig, that they will give pleasure to many generations of students who will attend classes in the splendid building of which the decorations are a part. f1131
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
