In its relatively brief history, Erie has produced an impressive slate of prominent citizens. By dint of its location-lying midway between New York and Chicago, astride an important body of water-it is easy to see how the city offered opportunities to business moguls, politicians, and military heroes. But the natural beauty of the Erie area and environs has also served as an important backdrop, as an inspiration to artists of many disciplines.

One of the most well known of these was Erie-born Wilbur Henry Adams, the famed industrial designer. Adams' singularly original output rates with the greatest pioneers of the field, such as Raymond Loewy and Walter Dorwin Teague, both of whom he worked with. These names may not ring a bell for most Americans, but ironically, we have lived intimately with their ingenious designs for much of the 20th century and we would recognize the influence of their artistry in many basic indispensable items such as refrigerators, dishwashers, tricycles, and cars.

Adams, who returned to Erie to set up a design studio here, died in 1959.

He was greatly moved by the natural beauty of our area and even devised innovative designs for preserving the environment of the Erie Bay. As President of the Erie Philharmonic, he sketched a striking proposal for a floating bandstand on the lake for the orchestra's concerts.

Working from a private studio on his Wolf Rd. family farm, Adams racked up impressive credentials designing products for the largest and most prestigious commercial companies of his day, from locals such as Zurn and American Sterilizer, to national giants such as B.F. Goodrich, Sherwin-Williams, and Electromaster. Adams' genius was employed on a breathtaking array of projects, ranging from motor vehicles to playgrounds, all of which he invested with sleek lines and unforced elegance. His avante garde blueprints for service stations, appliances, public buildings, and private homes still appear forward-looking, 50 years after they were first formulated.

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