Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, OR

…Continued from Sacajawea & Jean-Baptiste.

IMG_2645 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 27, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 27, 2010

The Washington Park Fountain was commissioned by the city in 1891. It is also known as the Chiming Fountain for the sound made by the water flowing from the upper bronze pan into the lower one.

IMG_2649 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 27, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 27, 2010

The cast iron Renaissance-style fountain was designed and built by John Hans Staehli, who had a shop at 64 Second Street.

IMG_2332 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 15, 2010

The fountain was originally painted white and topped with a cast iron stature of a boy holding a staff that spouted water. The figure later disappeared and was last photographed in 1912.

IMG_2331 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 15, 2010

By 1960 the fountain had deteriorated to the point that the city was ready to scrap it, but local longshoreman Francis J. Murnane appealed to Mayor Terry Schrunk to save it.

IMG_2327 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 15, 2010

The park bureau restored the fountain for a total cost of $1,772.

IMG_2328 Chiming Fountain at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Chiming Fountain on February 15, 2010

Continue to Coming of the White Man

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