The Enduring Legacy of John F. Gould: Ooltewah Whistlestop displays original locomotive illustrations by famous New York artist

Robert Gould, son of famous 20th century artist John F. Gould, and his wife Loretta stand with the one of his father's artworks at Ooltewah Whistlestop.

While dining at the Ooltewah Whistlestop, a railroad-themed restaurant and local cafe in Ooltewah, Tennessee, many patrons are sure to notice two framed originals of General Electric (GE) locomotives hanging on the wall.

The artwork, loaned to the restaurant by Robert Gould – an Ooltewah resident and son of a famous 20th century New York artist – are just the latest railroad-themed images displayed at the restaurant, which has become a local draw for history buffs and railroad enthusiasts.

“Our restaurant is more than a place for artisan milkshakes and delicious comfort foods,” said Alva Johnson, co-owner of the local cafe, located at an active railroad crossing on Main Street. “The images on the walls tell a story of local and national significance – a story about the connection of railroads to small-town USA and our universal love for trains.”

The images are original pen & ink drawings by Gould’s father, the late John F. Gould. The elder Gould, who died in 1996, worked for 20 years as an art consultant/illustrator for the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York, and the Erie, Pennsylvania, Locomotive Division.

John F. Gould and his artwork.

John F. Gould, a contemporary of the legendary Norman Rockwell, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1906, according to the John Gould Legacy Art website managed by his son. He graduated with an art degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and later taught at Pratt for 22 years.

Known for his attention to intricate details, many of John F. Gould’s paintings and drawings feature trains and bridges along the Hudson River. In addition to working for GE, he also served as a prominent illustrator for The Saturday Evening Post and many national corporations. He and his wife, Mary, established the Bethlehem Art Gallery in Cornwall, New York.

Robert Gould, one of three sons, is now the curator of his father’s art collection, along with his wife, Loretta. Today, he remains determined to preserve his father’s legacy for future generations.

In 2019, he and his wife archived some of John F. Gould’s major works at Syracuse University and the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. The collections include early pulp illustrations, General Electric School and College posters, original Hudson Valley paintings, pen and ink illustrations and over 50 transparency images of historic New York.

The last calendar for the New York Central RR System designed by

John F. Gould in 1954 now hangs inside Ooltewah Whistlestop.

The artwork posted at Ooltewah Whistlestop were used to create ceramic tiles in the 1960s and 1970s. Gould also loaned the restaurant the last calendar for the New York Central RR System designed by his father in 1954.

For guests searching for unique things to do in Ooltewah, the display offers another reason to stop by Main Street, enjoy a meal, and experience the restaurant’s connection to railroad history. Smaller prints of John F. Gould drawings will soon be for sale at Ooltewah Whistlestop.

For more information about this legendary artist, visit the John Gould Legacy Art website.