Portage Path Indian Statue

The Portage Path Indian Statue has been an Akron landmark since 1905. The present monument location is the PNC Bank property near Highland Square. Specifically it is positioned NW of the intersection of Portage Path and W. Market Streets. Portage Path Street approximates the ca. 7 mile long historic Indian trail extending between the bend of the Cuyahoga River and headwaters of the Tuscarawas River. This canoe portage route connected the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds. The Portage Path trail was used as an Indian boundary (American settlers were supposed to stay east of the boundary and Native Americans to the west) at the 1785 Treaty of Fort McIntosh, a designation which lasted until 1805. A comment on the statue itself is necessary. This particular design is often called the Indian Chief or a Mott Indian, and less commonly a Demuth Indian or a Fiske Indian. The latter three names refer to NYC foundries that cast these zinc statues. A layer of bronze could be added for an additional fee. The design is based on a Demuth or Fiske wooden cigar store Indian (although there is some controversy as to which came first: the wooden carving or the cast metal statue). The 1970s postcard view (see below) correctly shows two items held by the Indian: a bow held vertically in the left hand, while the right has a horizontal arrow. These items are sometimes removed by vandals, particularly at Halloween. As a result I have seen a picture (not shown) of the Portage Path Indian holding a tomahawk in his right hand. The Indian Chief statue was a popular installation (ca. 25 still exist) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Northeast and Midwest where they were typically named for a prominent local American Indian or the location (e.g., Portage Path). An Akron newspaper reporter once led a campaign to rename the Portage Path Indian as “Unk.” Other nearby Mott Indian examples are at Barberton (Chief Hopocan or Captain Pipe) and Lodi (The Chief or Lowatha).