South Park Blocks #2: Shemanski Fountain

Shemanski Fountain on February 15, 2010

Joseph Shemanski was born in Sluzewo, Poland in 1869 and emigrated to the United States at age 18. He worked as an errand boy in San Francisco and came to Portland two years later and opened a store on Third Avenue that sold clocks. He prospered with the Eastern Outfitting Company selling men's and women's clothing. Along with his brothers Isadore and Alfred in San Francisco and Seattle, Shemanski had interests in other Eastern Outfitting stores along the Pacific coast. Shemanski served as President of the Jewish Education Association and the Temple Beth Israel and Ahavai Shalom synagogues. At the suggestion of his friend Constance Mattingly, Shemanski petitioned the City Council to allow him to give the gift of a fountain to the citizens of Portland "to express in small measure gratitude for what the city has done for me." The Italianate trefoil fountain was designed by Mattingly's friend Carl L. Linde, an architect who designed many residences, hotels and apartments including the nearby Sovereign Hotel, and was drawn by designer Thayne Logan. The three lower drinking basins at the corners were placed because Shemanski felt that dogs and other pets should have a place to drink, as horses did at the Elk Fountain at the Plaza Blocks.

Rebecca at the Well on February 15, 2010

The original design had a large central planter under the cupola, but Shemanski felt a sculpture would better complete it, and commissioned University of Oregon art professor Oliver Laurence Barrett to produce the bronze sculpture of Rebecca at the Well, depicting the wife of Isaac from the Old Testament. The fountain was unveiled on September 3, 1926. Joseph Shemanski died in 1951.

Shemanski Fountain on February 15, 2010

By 1987 the fountain had noticeably deteriorated, and Shemanski's grandchildren and great-grandchildren donated the funds to restore it. The plumbing was repaired, the fountain was cleaned, missing urns and finials were replaced and chipped corners were repaired and the fountain was coated with a protective sealant. Molds for replacement pieces were made from surviving fragments. The fountain is made of cast stone, which is mixed like concrete with a variety of aggregates and color dyes, then etched with acid. Architectural Reproductions made over 50 samples before achieving an acceptable match to the fountain's original material.

Shemanski Fountain on February 15, 2010

Historical Photo:
Shemanski Fountain, 1959 (SPL)

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