[35mm Ohio] The Heart of it All and the Center of the World

Apr 16

“Ohio, the Heart of it All” was the state’s former tourism slogan. It appeared at interstate borders, on license plates, and on rest stop brochures.

Photographs made with a Pentax K1000 and Fujifilm Superia 400.

Per OhioHistoryCentral.org, the slogan was adopted in 1984 and lasted until it was replaced in “the early 2000’s.” It was initially created because “Ohio roughly resembles a heart in shape” and due to the fact that “Ohio is a very populous state with many activities of all sorts for residents and visitors.” The slogan’s creators also benefitted from the state’s physical position within the Lower 48: center-left like a heart would be in a body and almost, but not quite, at the center of the country. Fun fact: had the Queen City’s bid for the 2012 Olympics worked out, the slogan would’ve been, “Cincinnati: America At It’s Best!” While the bid would’ve centered on the state’s most populous metropolitan area, the entire event would’ve been a regional affair incorporating Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Northern Kentucky, and even other cross-border neighbors such as Louisville and Lexington. The Olympic theme, much like the former tourism motto, was a solid reflection of this state’s position in America—both physically and culturally.

While it may have proclaimed itself as “The Heart of it All” for a time, there are certainly plenty of detractors (both external and internal) who would just as quickly fly over or easily write this place off (Cincinnati’s Olympic bid ultimately became less of a civic rallying cry and more of a local AM radio punching bag). Ohio at the end of the day, while an aforementioned cross-section of the nation’s population and culture, is certainly not the “center” of the United States, let alone the world. Yet, along Rt. 5 in Leavittsburg, there’s a sign that would seem to proclaim otherwise...

Physically, no you’re not. You’re in Northeast Ohio and pretty far “above” the Earth’s equator. Culturally, you’re not even really near one of the state’s three major cities, let alone an international airport. Where you are at is an unincorporated community within Trumbull County. Center of the World, Ohio exists in the form of one roadside sign along with a handful of houses, a self storage facility, and one abandoned motel.

- Abandoned motel, Center Of The World.

- Abandoned boat, Center Of The World.

It’s the remains of an idea once held dear by Randall D. Wilmot of New York City. He was a businessman who founded the area and bestowed the land with an ambitious name in 1845. He had been so confident in the area’s geographic location during a time of “manifest destiny” that he thought the settlement may one day grow into an economic and cultural metropolis. The railroad companies, however, opted to use the nearby city of Warren (founded 1798) as their regional hub instead.

- En route to Mesopotamia, Newbury Township.

I came across the sign after having traveled out of Mesopotamia, a charming township replete with a general store, old-school gas station, and restaurant that claimed to have “Mespo’s Best Burgers.” Loaded with barbecue sauce and mayonnaise, the concoction I had was pretty good. Featuring a wooden sculpture of a horse and buggy outside, the place seemed like a bit of a tourist trap with a faux old time village out back, which is all totally fine (and was a nice surprise to come across). The place had character, good food, friendly people, and offered a decent spot to sit and write for a bit.

- Filling station, Mesopotamia.

- Horse and buggy statue, Mesopotamia.

I then made it Warren where a replica of the Apollo 11 lunar lander stood adjacent to a McDonald’s and in front of an abandoned K-Mart.

- First Flight Lunar Module, Warren.

- Abandoned K-Mart, Warren.

The first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, hailed from the other side of the state, though, in Wapakoneta (before retiring and living out the rest of his life in Cincinnati). The memorial in Warren commemorates the site where Armstrong took his first airplane ride at the age of 6 before he would go on to become a naval aviator, Korean War fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut, and ultimately the hero who took “one small step for man” and “one giant leap for mankind.”