THE FLIP SIDE OF TURKEY FOOT ROCK by James L. Murphy, Grove City, Ohio 43123

Abstract. The complicated history of symbol of the turkey's foot. It is more likely landmarks such as the rail snake fence Lucas County's Turkey Foot Rock is re- that a tourist placed the symbol on this and the adjacent road. More significantly, it viewed, and it is shown that some time rock during the time it was located on the shows that the rock is partially buried. The between 1931 and its last move in 1953, banks of the Maumee" (Mending hall 1975: slight concavity shown in Lossing's draw- from beside old Route 24 along the Mau- 2). In any case, Toledo MetroParks' Final ing is difficult to discern, but a large protu- mee River to its present location adjacent General Management Plan/Environmental berance with central depression is visible to the Fallen Timbers monument, the rock Impact Statement (available on their web along the lower margin. This photograph is was turned upside down from its original site) regards it as a "sacred site" and af- reproduced in Charles Van Tassel's Book of position and remains so today firms that "it is still used by some Ameri- Ohio (1901). Van Tassel also reproduced a can Indian individuals and groups as a site photograph of the rock showing the actual Introduction for offerings." Anecdotal evidence of this carvings on the south face of the rock (Fig- The trials and tribulations of Ohio's is offered by Downes, who mentions that ure 8). This view was later reprinted by Viet- most-travelled portable petroglyph have "Turkey Foot Rock is continuing to be a zen (1973:73) without acknowledgement. been well-documented by Keller (1952) very active shrine. I am told that every year Swauger referred to Vietzen's photograph and more recently by Swauger (1984) and Indian visitors from many parts of America but was unaware of the original source or Jacobs (2003) but invite some additional stop at the Rock to see this memorial of of its age. Besides depicting the actual comment. Swauger (1984: 138) suggest- the battle of Fallen Timbers. Ever since that carvings, this view is important in showing ed that the incised "turkey tracks" found famous battle, no year has elapsed without the diagonal bedding plane and the nature on the Lucas County Turkey Foot Rock many such visits" (Downes 1955: 49). of its extension onto the side of the rock to petroglyph are so faint as to be virtually the left. Also apparent is the fact that the unrecognizable, as is certainly the case Turkey Foot Rock Today rock is lying on undisturbed, grassy ground with the petroglyphs on its nearest neigh- Prompted to visit the site by discovery and is, in fact, still partly buried, proof that bor, the more famous Inscription Rock at of an early (pre-1901) photograph clearly the photograph dates prior to 1899, when Kelley's Island. Swauger "could distinguish showing at least five "cuspidiform" mark- the stone was first moved. only one track, that of a bird, and that only ings or bird tracks, I was curious to see My interest in Turkey Foot Rock was ini- faintly and perhaps only because we knew if there were any traces of those which tially piqued by the fact that this old pho- it was supposed to be there." (Note that he Swauger had not been able to discern. tograph showed no fewer than five carved does not write "because we knew where it Swauger includes photographs of the front tracks. While a recent visit to the Fallen was supposed to be.") and back of the rock, as it now appears Timbers memorial revealed that traces of According to the tradition surrounding mounted at the Fallen Timbers State Me- at least three of these can still be seen, it Turkey Foot Rock, it was while standing morial immediately south of U.S. Route 24 was not possible to reconcile the shape of on this rock that Ottawa Chief Turkey Foot in Maumee, Ohio, but he does not show the rock with Van Tassel's photograph until (variously Me-sa-sa or Mis-sis-sa-in-zit ) the side on which the carvings occur. Fig- I realized that the rock is now upside down! tried to rally his retreating warriors at the ures 1-5 show the rock as it appears today This surprising development is made pa- Battle of Fallen Timbers, only to be shot adjacent to the Fallen Timbers Memorial, tently obvious by comparing Figures 3, 5 dead by an American bullet. Subsequently, monument, where it was moved in 1953 by and 8. Although the rounded, pillow-like Indians are said to have visited the rock, the Ohio State Archaeological and Histori- layer of the rock shown in the upper left carving the bird tracks and leaving gifts cal Society. of Figure 8 is obscured by the bronze his- of tobacco in his memory. Certainly there torical plaque and its mounting in Figures was such an Ottawa chief although even Early Photographic History 3 and 5, conclusive proof is the fact that in this fact is dismissed by some accounts. The earliest known illustration of Turkey Figure 8 the larger portion of the south face Toledo MetroParks Historic Programs Spe- Foot Rock is a somewhat fanciful drawing of the stone is below the diagonal bedding cialist Janet Rozick cites G. Michael Pratt's dating to 1860 and appearing in Benson plane, while in Figures 3 and 5 it is above research to discount the story as "nothing Lossing's Pictorial Field-book of the War the bedding plane. A very similar view is more than legend since the battle took of 1812 (published 1868). For the most shown on a postcard (Figure 9) that proba- place on the bluffs overlooking the river, part Lossing's drawing (Figure 6) is greatly bly dates to the period 1905-1915 but cer- rather than on the flood plains" (Rozick exaggerated with eight giant turkey tracks tainly later than the Van Tassel photograph. n.d.: 7). Because the incident allegedly oc- scattered over the top and front of the Very significant differences include the fact curred while the Indians were retreating, it rock, but the form and position of the rock that the rock is now oriented with the long might not seem critical for the rock to have is generally similar to that shown in late axis parallel to the road and the Maumee been located in the thick of the battle in 19th - early 20th C. photographs. Because River; that is, the "south" face is now fac- order for the legend to be true; however, all other sources indicate that the carvings ing more-or-Iess west. Also, substantially Pratt's historical research (1995) and sub- were made with a metal knife or hatchet, more of the rock is exposed. sequent archaeological research (2003; see Lossing's drawing in respect to the carv- Another postcard view (Figure 10), is also Jacobs 2003) certainly indicate that ings can be dismissed as highly imagi- clearly contemporaneous with Figure 9, as the battle and ancillary Native American native and inaccurate. The rail fence, the it includes the same iron fence, and shows activity occurred considerably to the north road, the Maumee River, and Presque Isle the other side of Turkey Foot Rock, which, and east of the present Fallen Timbers me- Hill are accurate details to be seen in Ben- except for displaying more of the rock due morial and well away from the original site jamin Lossing's 1860 drawing. The broad, to excavation, is very similar to the origi- of Turkey Foot Rock at the foot of Presque gentle concavity shown on the side of the nal photograph showing the rock along Isle Hill. Perhaps the most unusual (and rock facing the viewer is another important the split rail fence (Figure 7). The broad somewhat operatic) interpretation is that detail although sometimes difficult to see concavity exaggerated by Lossing is only expressed on the NRHP nomination form in later photographs. slightly visible but the prominent protuber- for the Fallen Timbers memorial: "It was The earliest and best known photograph ance with central depression along the here, fable has it, that Chief Turkey Foot of Turkey Foot Rock (Figure 7) is said to lower edge of the rock is quite distinct. To- after being mortally wounded in battle as- date to 1880 and corroborates the general gether, these views (as well as others not cribed [italics added] his signiture [sic], the location as shown by Lossing, including included here) clearly document the fact 32 that the rock, as currently resting in the torical Society of Northwestern Ohio, to Dr. view of the rear of a Chrysler Corporation Fallen Timbers memorial, has been turned Emerson F. Greenman of the Ohio State auto manufactured ca. 1946-1949 (Dan upside down. Archaeological and Historical Society. Clements, Columbus, Ohio, pers. comm.) The explanation for the differences be- (Cited in the 1950 report by the Anthony and must date no later than 1950 since it tween these early postcard views and the Wayne Parkway Board, this letter has not appears in the Parkway Board's 1950 re- earlier photographs in Van Tassel, is be- been found in the Ohio Historical Society's port. The Maumee River and old Route lieved to involve an 1899 incident in which Archives Library or in the Archaeological 24 can clearly be seen in the background, history enthusiasts from the city of Toledo Dept. county files.) so the view dates prior to the rock being attempted to appropriate the rock for the The files of the Anthony Wayne Parkway moved to its present location on the Fallen Ohio Centennial planned for 1903. Wanting Board, now housed in the State Archives at Timbers bluff. Comparison with Figures 2, to display it in Toledo, a group absconded The Ohio Historical Society, contain several 7 and 10 leaves no doubt that the rock is with the rock but then abandoned it. A photographs that shed light on the rock's now upside down, in particular, the irregu- group of Maumee residents brought the later history. Comparison of these pho- lar, "knobby" portion of the side shown at rock back on a wagon and there was a tographs (as well as earlier photographs) the base of the rock in Figures 7, 10, and suitable jollification (Fig. 11). Keller (1952) with the rock as it appears today leaves 13, is now at the top in Figure 14. provides details of this incident, as does no doubt that at some point the rock was If any further evidence is needed, there Wendler (1988: 321-322). The postcards turned upside down and remains upside is another view of Turkey Foot Rock at this dating ca. 1905-1915 clearly show the down today. Why or how this happened location, surrounded by the same distinc- rock after its return to the site along the riv- remains a mystery, whether by accident or tive chain fence draped from a series of er. The view in Figure 10 shows a smooth design; but there is no question that it is iron pipes (Fig. 15). This photo, too, is in outline of the top of the rock very similar so. Figure 13 shows the rock in its normal the Anthony Wayne Parkway Board state to that shown in the old view along the rail position, apparently on a somewhat eroded archives housed at The Ohio Historical fence, while the base is very irregular, with rectangular concrete or stone base, in front Society. As can be seen, particularly by the prominent, "dimpled" protuberance. of the iron fence erected when the land comparing this view with the Van Tassel Another photograph in Smith (1924: 154) owner (Daniel F. Cook) donated the site photograph (Fig. 8) and Figure 9 the bulk confirms these aspects of the rock. These to the Turkey Foot Rock Monumental As- of the rock now lies above the prominent views are important in establishing that fol- sociation (Keller 1952: 195). The aluminum diagonal bedding plane rather than be- lowing the abortive removal to Toledo the alloy ("sewahely") and concrete sign is one low it. Perhaps even more conclusive, the rock was replaced in essentially its original of a series of 35 markers manufactured by faintly incised letter "N' lies just above the position, though not quite the original ori- the Sewah Studios of Marietta and erect- bedding plane in the Van Tassel photo and entation - but still right side up. Daniel F. ed by the Ohio Dept. of Highways for the can now be seen below it in Figure 15. This Cook, the land owner, donated a small plot Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission photograph is also useful in supporting of land for the rock, a Turkey Foot Monu- (founded in 1929) in 1930 and 1931 (Van a remark made by Randolph C. Downes mental Association was formed, and an Tassel 1931). Correspondence files of the (1965: 48) that is well worth quoting: elaborate iron fence erected. Much more Commission are preserved at the Ohio His- "[The rock's] unguarded exposure of the rock is visible in these postcard torical Society and indicate that the Lucas for over sixty years has caused ero- views, presumably because the pictures County signs were part of a second set de- sion and intrusive marks that prevent were taken shortly after the 1899 removal livered to the Dept. of Highways in January definite observation. Turkey-foot marks and replacement of the rock. or February of 1931 (letter, A.D. Hosterman are to be seen, but they have obviously Further evidence that the rock was re- to w.J. Sherman January 21, 1931). The been tampered with. " placed right side up following its 1899 sign must have been vandalized almost Figure 15 shows that at least two of excursion is shown in Figure 12, an 1892 immediately, for E.M. Hawes, proprietor of the bird tracks have been highlighted by view from a glass plate negative. At the top Sewah Studios wrote to Hosterman May later scratching, although subsequent left of the rock is the rounded, pillow-like 27, 1931, stating that the sign was being weathering has largely erased these re- layer now lying at the bottom of the rock repaired and would be returned promptly. cent scratches (as well as the earlier "N"). at Fallen Timbers memorial. Compare this w.J. Sherman wrote Hosterman July 15, Downes' observation may have been the view with Figures 1, 5, 8, and 9. 1931, that the sign had been replaced and result of a September, 1952, visit to the "appeared to be all right now, or until the rock, accompanied by Mrs. Margarette E. Subsequent History: The Rock Turned small boy gets in his work on the filigree ..." Pryor, "an expert in Indian pictographs from Upside Down The significance of this photograph lies in the Detroit Aborigine Society" and others As early as 1916 it was recommended the fact that it confirms the rock was still (Reynders 1952: 14). Mrs. Pryor concluded that the Ohio State Archaeological and oriented right side up as late as the spring that the Indians "must have believed that Historical Society acquire the site of Fort of 1931. Note that the three tracks incised the boulder housed the spirit of the Turkey Meigs and Turkey Foot Rock (Committee on the lower part of the stone are clearly god who ranked high in their religion as the on Fort Miami and Fort Meigs 1916: 107- visible. Also noticeable is the faint, broad one who brought fire from the heaven to 108). In 1921 the site of the Fallen Timbers depression along the top of the side to the their people." memorial was donated to the Ohio State right and the irregular nature of the lower Archaeological and Historical Society by portion of that side, conforming well with Why and When Did It Happen? Clarissa Cook Moore (daughter of Daniel F. the old postcard view shown in Figure 10. It would be helpful to know why Turkey Cook), and the monument was dedicated The condition of the two painted concrete Track Rock was turned upside down but in 1929 (Museum Echoes 2(4): 25-26. It posts suggests that this photograph may the limited amount of publicly accessible was late 1931, however, before the Mau- well date considerably after the marker documentation from the Ohio Historical mee Valley Pioneer and Historical Society was erected in 1931. Society's former Property Division offers of Toledo deeded Turkey Foot Rock to the Another photograph, included in the An- no clues. One theory is that it was thought Ohio State Archaeological and Historical thony Wayne Parkway Board's 1950 Pro- simply to look better in the newly land- Society (McPherson 1932: 47; Columbus gram for Developing the Site of the Battle of scaped grounds (Fig. 16). This might be Ohio State Journal 21 Nov 1931, p. 2). Al- Fallen Timbers (Figure 14) shows the rock termed the aesthetic theory. It is also pos- though McPherson mistakenly thought the ca. 1946-1950 and documents landscap- sible that the rock was deliberately re-ori- carvings were prehistoric, the Historic na- ing and other changes made by the Ohio ented upside down in a mistaken attempt ture of the carvings was clarified in a 1934 State Archaeological and Historical Soci- to make it agree more in superficial appear- letter from Walter J. Sherman, chairman of ety. This photograph is important in that it ance with that shown in the old, original the Fallen Timbers Committee of the His- can be narrowly dated, due to the partial photograph (Fig. 7); quite possibly it was 33 incorrectly thought that the rock had been Ohio has not been answered, nor has one Keller, Kathryn Miller replaced upside down in 1899 and that this to the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, a group 1952 The Tales and Travels of Turkey Foot error was being corrected. This hypothesis including the descendants of the Ottawa Rock. Northwest Ohio Quarterly 24(4): 186-198. might be called the historical theory. Fi- who lived in northwestern Ohio both prior Lossing, Benson nally, the "flip" may have been performed to and after the Battle of Fallen Timbers. 1868 The Pictorial Field-book of the War of accidentally by workmen who did not no- Vergil Noble of the National Park Service 1812, or, Illustrations, by pen and pencil, tice what they were doing or thought that it has pointed out that National Historic of the history, biography, scenery, relics, did not make any difference. This might be Landmark site integrity refers to the condi- and traditions of the last war for American dubbed the Laurel and Hardy theory. tion of the site at the time it is designated, independence. Harper & Bro., New York. As to when the "flip" occurred, several so that earlier impact, including the "flip- McPherson, H. R. lines of evidence suggest that it may have ping" of Turkey Foot Rock, is irrelevant to 1932 Park Notes. Museum Echoes 5(6): 47. been as early as 1940. Very probably it the site's National Landmark status. Noble Mendinghall, Joseph Scott 1975 National Register of Historic Places was part of the landscaping and "improve- (pers. comm. September 4, 2007) has also Nomination Form, dated October 14, observed that the National Historic Land- ment" associated with the pipe and chain 1975, Copy on file, Ohio Historic Preser- fence, and the earliest reference to this mark nomination form for the Fallen Tim- vation Office, Columbus. chain occurs in a "Maumee Valley Travel bers Memorial has never been revised to Pratt, G. Michael Tour" prepared by the Toledo Automobile incorporate the actual battlefield site delin- 1995 The Battle of Fallen Timbers: An Eyewit- Club in 1940, which simply states "The eated by Pratt (2003). ness Perspective. Northwest Ohio Quar- rock enclosed by a chain on your right, is terly 67(1): 4-34. supposedly the rock on which Chief Turkey Acknowledgements. Marilyn Wendler of 2003 Remote Sensing Surveys at the Fallen Foot stood and exhorted his men to op- the Maumee Lucas County Historical Soci- Timbers Battlefield National Historic Site. Ohio Valley Historical Archaeology pose General Anthony Wayne ..." (Anony- ety has provided significant information on 18: 74-85. (Released 2004). mous 1941: 93). This tour was developed Turkey Foot Rock, both personally and in Reynders, Thomas F. for the Maumee Valley International His- her writings. Leslee Hooper, of the Maumee 1952 Turkey Foot Rock: Tracks Are Still Clear torical Convention, held September 27- Public Library provided the important link on Worn Surface. Toledo Blade, Sep- 29, 1940 ("International" by virtue of one to the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Com- tember 28,1952, Magazine Section: 14. speaker coming from Ontario.) It seems mission signage. Martha Otto checked Rozick, Janet E. very probable that the rock and its envi- the Ohio Historical Society's Archaeologi- n.d. Side Cut, Farnsworth, Bend View, and rons were "gussied up" for this occasion, cal Dept. files for the 1934 letter from w.J. Providence Metroparks. Toledo Me- the proceedings of which were printed in Sherman to Emerson Greenman. Vergil E. troParks website, available at http:// www.metroparkstoledo.com/m e- The Ohio State Archaeological and His- Noble provided perspective from the point troparks/ content/fi les/s id e-c ut -fam s- torical Quarterly; however, it could have of view of the National Park Service. worth_ bv _and_providence.doc occurred earlier, at any time after the rock Swauger, James L. was deeded to the Society in 1931. 1984 Petroglyphs of Ohio. Ohio University It is worth noting that the 1940 Maumee REFERENCES Press, Athens. Valley convention resulted in the forma- Anonymous Van Tassel, Charles S. tion of the Anthony Wayne Memorial As- 1941 Maumee Valley Travel Tour. The Ohio 1901 The Book of Ohio and Its Centennial, State Archaeological and Historical sociation, which eventually led to the de- or One Hundred Years of the Buckeye Quarterly 50(1): 91-98. Anthony Wayne velopment of the Anthony Wayne Parkway State. Van Tassel, Bowling Green and Parkway Board Toledo. Board, which in turn led to Turkey Foot 1950 Program for Developing the Site of the 1931 Historical Landmarks: Story of Their Lo- Rock being moved to its present location Battle of Fallen Timbers, Lucas County. cation and Significance as Designated in in 1953. The Board, [Columbus, Ohio] Northwestern Ohio by the Ohio Revolu- Committee on Fort Miami and Fort Meigs tionary Memorial Commission. Republi- Conclusion: Does It Matter? 1916 Thirty-first Annual Meeting. Report. Ohio can Printing, Bowling Green. The fact that no one else appears to Archaeological and Historical Society Veitzen, Raymond C. have noticed or commented on the fact Publications 26: 106-108. 1973 Yesterday's Ohioans. Indian Ridge Mu- Downes, Randolph C. that Turkey Foot Rock was turned upside seum, Elyria. 1955 The Director's Page. Northwest Ohio down some sixty to seventy years ago Wendler, Marilyn Van Voorhis Quarterly 27(2): 47-48. 1988 The Foot of the Rapids: The Biography suggests that it does not make much dif- Gunckel, John E. of a River Town. Maumee, Ohio, 1838- ference to anyone today. Inquiring of the 1913 The Early History of the Maumee Valley. 1988. Daring Books, Canton Ohio. Toledo MetroParks, when the idea was Rev. 2nd ed. Press of Henry M. Schmidt, first suggested, the only response was "I Toledo. wouldn't be a bit surprised," and no further Jacobs, Charles M. information has been forthcoming from 2003 Wayne's Trace: Fort Deposit to Fort In- that agency. An inquiry of a member of the dustry. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina. Tri-Regional Indian Organization (TRIO) of

34 Figure 1. Turkey Foot Rock as it appears today. The East side, showing Figure 2. Turkey Foot Rock today. The West side, viewed from above. Note prominent horizontal bands, including rounded, pillow-like band to the irregular weathered upper edge along the nearer (western) side, the broad concavity below and especially the prominent protuberance with central right of the plaque. depression.

Figure 3. Turkey Foot Rock today. The South side. Note prominent diagonal Figure 4. Close-up of South side of Turkey Foot Rock today showing one bedding plane. One track faintly visible on lower portion, pointing up and carving; another, originally to the right of it, appears to have been broken off. another on the upper portion, pointing down.

Figure 5. Turkey Foot Rock today. Photo deliberately inverted for compari- Figure 6. Drawing of Turkey Foot Rock from Benson Lossing (1860). Note son with Figures 8 and 9. Traces of two (of three) incised tracks are visible Maumee River on the left and Presque Isle Hill in the background. on the larger portion of the rock.

35 Figure 7. Best known photograph of Turkey Foot Rock, ca. 1880, Figure 8. Turkey Foot Rock from Van Tassel (1901). Note three tracks on the showing road up Presque Isle Hill and rail snake fence. Maumee larger portion of the rock, below the diagonal bedding plane, and two above. River beyond the road on left. (From Van Tassel (1901)). Although not A faint "... ON" carving can also be seen above the bedding plane. visible, the carvings are on the side facing the road and river to the southeast. Note the bulbous protuberance with central depression along the lower edge of the rock.

Figure 9. View showing the Maumee River in the background. The "south" Figure 1O. View of Turkey Foot Rock restored to its site along the Maumee face with the carvings is now facing west, and much more of the base of River Road. The carvings are on the side to the left, facing west in this the rock is exposed. view. Note the recent ground disturbance.

Figure 12. Turkey Foot Rock looking southeast (down- stream) in 1892. Note the rounded, pillow-like layer on Figure 11. The "Jollification" on Return of Turkey Foot Rock to Maumee. From the top edge of the rock. Photo (Object ID 10857) cour- Gunckel (1913). tesy of Toledo Lucas County Public Library. 36 Figure 14. Turkey Foot Rock upside down, ca. 1946-1950. Maumee River and old Route 24 in background. From Anthony Wayne Parkway Board 1950 Program. (Photo purchased from the Figure 13. Turkey Foot Rock from Van Tassel (1901). Ohio Historical Society.) Note three tracks on the larger portion of the rock, below the diagonal bedding plane, and two above. A faint ..... ON" carving can also be seen above the bedding plane.

Figure 15. Turkey Foot Rock upside down, ca. Figure 16. Turkey Foot Rock at the old location along the Maumee River. Undated postcard believed 1946-1950. Anthony Wayne Parkway Board ar- to be ca. 1931-1940. Note chain fence. Rock has been turned upside-down. chives. (Photo purchased from The Ohio Histori- cal Society.) ------. - . - . - . -