3nd article Ohio River StreetVibes, October 2nd-15th, 2011, pg. 12.

The third feature composed in the corresponding series on regional landmarks of the Greater Cincinnati area and surrounding states intentionally delves into the formation of the central passage currently called the Ohio River. As a matter of vital importance to the entire tri-state region, and expansively requisite to the support of the protracted river valley, the primal waterway is an essential conduit that formed the lush landscape and supplies the indispensable element of water to the expansive district. Initially the principal river was to be foremost of the reviewed articles, as it is an undeniably conspicuous and inescapable landmark profoundly coursing through this adjoined area that necessitates its bordering consideration through the tri-state that cannot be easily gotten around. Or at least not until the momentous construction of John A. Roebling’s Cincinnati-Covington Bridge was perseveringly conducted in the 1860’s to provide more direct and straightforward passage at the median junction of the prime ports, facilitating concurrent pedestrian and vehicular egress form South to North with converse securely bearing along this intercity overpass. As Roebling’s bridge presented a overarching achievement in more directly connecting the states of Kentucky and Ohio, that were further divided by the American Civil War, as well as presenting a momentous structural achievement, that though frequently overshadowed as a model for the Brooklyn Bridge, stands of a particular resound constituent construction to the German-American community in Cincinnati and respective bordering areas, it was decided to convey that construct as the first prominent landmark. All the while the interfluent river persists as an underlying issue, from the foremost passage to the secondary drinking fountains, forged and formatively drawn up by John G. Murdock as a reciprocal contribution. It is indubitable that the channel presently exclaimed as the Ohio River is the veritable artery that feeds the entire region and continues to be a source of transportation, although reduced from its prime amount during the advent of the steamboat in the 19th century into the turn of the century. As this waterway was-and to a critical extent still is- a vital means of access in and out of Cincinnati that seminally shaped the growth of the city and flowering suburbs its essential egress, and absorbed nature presents a pervasive measure that is challenging to distill into a reduced pool of reflected history. Being as the ancient channel sprung from the glacial backflow of the immense primordial river noted as the Teays that remains of a deep impression, visible from certain area overlooks, that lasting imprint is nevertheless often forgotten in our comparatively limited view of time, along with current generations being mainly unaware that vast amounts of the Teays River submerged volume still flow underneath the seemingly dry core, daily trod, that continues to sustain a near immeasurable growth to the expansive Ohio River Valley. The formidable level of a conceivable sectioned relation of this immense impact into a condensed form presents multifactor challenges toward a conventional parted review outlined of a standard worded column. In reflecting upon this immense historical influence that forcefully formed the river currently called the Ohio- that is nearly inconceivable to reduce into prevailing columns that are presently preset to be easily arranged or quickly digested- there was a conscious choice to create a more fluid paradigm, based on the form of writing noted as visual poetry or concrete poetry. Being more an admitted visual artist than formalized writer, this recourse was initially adopted to equate the underlying course leading to the primal waterways point of overflow stemming at what would be a median point later surveyed as Cincinnati, with fluid direction of the awash valley arising from the backflow of the Teays toward a southerly route. Inspiration toward this formation was drawn from artist Robert Smithson’s combined composition in his Heap of Language, in which words are piled on top of another in the shape of a pyramid that exists as a textual body, yet also is a visual layering (http://www.robertsmithson.com/drawings/heap_p104 300.html). Further acknowledged motives around the original shape undertaken were consciously modeled on the circuitous flow of the pre-existing Teays feeding into the newly born tributary- now mainly consensually marked as the Ohio- that raises continual contemplation upon a decided beginning or clear end to a river that of our established measures often reveals our marginal understanding in attempting to linearly demarcate a fluid elemental force that remains largely unfathomable even of our purportedly advanced technological systems, that remain suspect to any human made efforts to control or decide its indefinite cycle. The contemplative implications applied around controlling a river were a clear motive within the reflection of a reciprocal natural body of water that is a underlying support without which, essentially life as has developed in the prosperous region would wither; or if of the past did not backflow would have remained a dry valley that would have not been as expansively redeveloped by human habitation. Though the composition sought to be twisting and winding, it also was deeply informed of the referenced impoundment of glacial formations that so forcefully caused the Teays River to be damned and for the back-flowing Lake Tight to breach divide at the middle point later surveyed as Cincinnati to create the inrushing river that has been retroactively referred to as the Cincinnati-Pomeroy River, as well as the mighty Ohio. Not surprisingly the initial submission was rejected, even as poetry is a regular part of StreetVibes publication. The difficulties of overriding inbuilt editing programs are no doubt part of this, as is going beyond an expected format. Further inclusion stemmed from the Native American recognition, as their lineage may be traced back to the first people to subsist around the river, and though the families that were initially uncovered in various mounds and burial sites have been disturbed with the onset of Indo-European incursion- with early determination that the ancestors found were of a separate origin by 19th century Indo-European scholars- there continues study that their relations may have continued of the Shawano or Shawanee and other indigenous tribes in the area, such as the Lenape (Delaware), Susquehannock (Mingo), and Omaumeg (Miami) to name a few . In researching relevant records, various studies pertaining to the prehistoric people within what is now the Ohio Valley there is still much that remains unknown, and of course there is that which in being looted and removed or perhaps submerged under the river is lost. Though efforts were made to preserve these earthen mounds in the 1800’s in places along the Ohio River, up from the Mississippi River following Indo-European settlement disturbed many, with some sealed over altogether. As any understanding of an ancient culture there are findings that continue to alter previous beliefs as to origins, as scientific advances such as carbon dating reveal certain conjectures of past archeologists. The imparting of the prehistoric people in the 3rd article touches upon the oral pronouncement of the ancient river that has been widely misrepresented of its spoken descent, with phonetic corruption that continues unto the present. There was a intent therefore to relay variant names attributed, along with highlighting that though the Hodenosaunee or Iroquis term Oyo is largely referenced as leading to the current pronouncement it is as likely derived from the Wendat/Wyandot inflection Oheeza. The longer respective calls of Causisseppione and Spaylaywitheppi though almost lost of early echoes to the vital river are still reflected in the current retained name for the grandmother of waters that the Ohio meets, the Mississippi. While author Allan W. Eckert has been criticized by some for certain inaccuracies and romantic flourishes in his narrative North American history concerning ongoing conflict arising along the border river eventually inscribed as the Ohio, the depth of his notations over historical accounts- albeit interpreted through Indo-European’s records- is, especially in relation within That Dark and Bloody River (1996), extensively undertaken. As with all transcribed offers of historical circumstances, Eckert’s interpretation is best balanced with continuing histories of the Ohio River and larger Midwest Valley impact of Indo-European immigrants upon North America, and some of the best observed along this course compiling this article were Richard White’s, The Middle Ground: Indians. Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650-1815 (1991); Douglas R. Hurt’s, The Ohio Frontier: Crucible of the Old Northwest, 1720-1830 (1996); and Colin G. Calloway’s, The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities (1995).

Truant tending

As with much best laid plans, the tending of this site has been truant as I wind my way tending the main articles. I apologize for this backlog, and am endeavoring to catch up, to relay a more recent upkeep herein, that supplies a supportive connection to the original columns printed within StreetVibes.