CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — One of downtown Chillicothe’s most iconic pieces of visual heritage is set to be refreshed this spring thanks to a $13,549 grant from the Ohio History Fund. The funding, awarded to Downtown Chillicothe, will support the “Mail Pouch Mural Restoration” project, aimed at preserving a rare example of early 20th‑century outdoor advertising art that has graced the city’s streets for decades.
The mural, originally painted on the side of a building in downtown Chillicothe, was part of the broad tradition of Mail Pouch tobacco advertising, once seen on barns, buildings and roadside walls across Ohio and the Midwest. These painted signs became a hallmark of Americana, especially through the mid‑1900s, and were popularized by painters like Harley E. Warrick, who painted tens of thousands of Mail Pouch barns during his long career.
According to the Ohio History Fund announcement, the restoration will be completed by a nationally recognized specialist in Mail Pouch murals, who will recreate the design using historically appropriate materials and methods. The project also includes the installation of lighting to highlight the restored mural for residents and visitors alike. The grant will help cover staff time, promotional efforts and electrical work needed to illuminate the mural.
Local leaders say the restoration not only preserves a piece of Chillicothe’s visual identity but also celebrates a broader folk‑art and advertising tradition that has become increasingly rare over time. The revitalized mural will stand alongside other public art and historic sites in downtown Chillicothe, adding depth to the area’s cultural landscape.
