Marietta, OH

We're beginning to find out more about the fountain in Marietta. We've known that it was given in 1910 and it still exists  today at Civitan Park. We believe that it was originally located somewhere in the downtown area of Marietta. If you look closely at the picture below, you can see the fountain in the lower right hand corner. That picture dates from 1913 after some serious flooding in town.

We also now know that it was moved to other sites including the Harmar end of the Putnam Street Bridge, the B&O railroad yard and the Second Street end of Camp Tupper. We don't know when or why it was moved, but assume that it became a traffic obstacle as the fountains tended to do in many cities.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Marietta may just prove that. Take a close look at this fountain:

At first glance, it looks like a NHA fountain, but look closer and you will see that it is not. It does have a large bowl and lions head spigots as does the NHA fountain, but according to the Washington County Historical Society this one, "....was given to Marietta Ohio by Sarah Warren. This fountain was designed and built by Jacob Staker by the Valley Monument Works in McConnelsville, Ohio...up the Muskingum River from Marietta. It is similar to the Humane design but features a smaller plaque, what appear to be lion heads spigots on two sides, and a lantern on top of the central post. This, I believe, is the fountain located on Third Street near "Camp Tupper" and Sacra Via."

It still exists, but the water no longer flows and the light on the top and the lions heads appear to be missing as well.

For more on the National Humane Alliance Fountains click here.


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