St. Helena, CA

Photo from St. Helena Historical Society

Story of the St. Helena Fountain from the St. Helena Historical Society:

By KATHLEEN COELINGH

In 1910 St. Helena was the proud recipient of a handsome granite and bronze animal drinking fountain, donated by the National Humane Alliance after persistent entreaties by the St. Helena Women’s Improvement Club. The fountain was installed in the street at the corner of Adams Street and Oak Avenue near Robert Walker’s Blacksmith shop (see photo above). The large drinking bowl on top was for horses, and overflow pipes fed two smaller bowls imbedded in the base that served dogs and cats. Ironically, a car (“horseless carriage”) overturned the fountain one dark and stormy night in 1920. The fountain was undamaged and, after much community debate, was re-located near the Southern Pacific depot on Railroad Street.

The fountain was eventually renovated and moved to its permanent home in Lyman Park, and was re-dedicated at the 1976 St. Helena Centennial celebration. This beautiful fountain still stands in Lyman Park as a reminder of the important role that horses played in the early days of our town. 

As it looks today.

Click here for some more stories about this fountain.

For more on the National Humane Alliance Fountains click here.