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Mercersburg's Fountain

Mercersburg’s Fountain

                                    Joan C. McCulloh

 

The fountain that stood in the Square of Mercersburg from 1916 until 1959 is a much-loved icon of the town.  In 1915 the Borough of Mercersburg improved the Square, then often referred to as the Diamond, with paving and installation of electric lights.  The Mercersburg Journal reported the installation of eight lamp posts with three bulbs each enclosed in a white glass globe.  In addition, at that time it was suggested that a grass plot remain in the center of the Square. In August of that year the Woman’s Club, now the Women’s Club, at a special meeting upon the motion of Miss Sadie Parker passed a resolution that “the Club make an effort to solicit for a fountain” as a fountain would be more beautiful and long-lasting than a grass plot and looked at several designs of fountains.  The women, led by a committee of Mrs. H. L. Waidlich, Miss Parker, and Miss Anna Fallon, began raising money for the proposed fountain and by September had raised $381.55, noted that more people were subscribing to the project, and directed the fountain committee now of six members with the addition of Mrs. Virginia Fendrick, Miss Agnew, and Miss Nancy Rupley “to secure a catalogue and select a fountain.” 

 

At the end of the year the fountain committee in an article in the November 19 issue of the Journal stated: “Frequent inquiries have recently been made as to the placing of the fountain on our public square and an immense amount of interest manifested in the same….  The committee in charge has been giving this matter careful con sideration. Various trips to other towns and places have been taken in the interest of the cause.  Several of different styles and designs have been submitted, and there was no difficulty in selecting a fountain in size and design especially suited to this place, one in which the most disinterested citizen could not help but feel a thrill of pride in a cleaner, neater Mercersburg.” The committee, however,  added that it could not purchase the fountain at that time as it lacked sufficient funds and encouraged people both residents and those who had moved away but loved their hometown to contribute. 

 

In January 1916 the Woman ’s Club authorized the fountain committee to borrow money from the club’s treasury to pay for the fountain with the understanding that the committee would repay the treasury after the subscriptions to the project had been paid. In that same month the Journal reported that “several dray loads” bringing materials for the fountain had come “from the depot,” stated that the fountain would be 131/2 feet high and 18 feet in diameter, and added, “It will be a handsome affair.”  By February 1, 1916, Mercersburg had a fountain in the middle of the Square.   The minutes of the Woman’s Club on that day state: “The Pres. made a few remarks about the fountain which has been placed in the Public Square and asked that the club would show their appreciation of the work accomplished by the fountain committee by giving them a rising vote of thanks.”  From May of that year until its removal in 1959 the Woman’s Club planted and cared for flowers in the stone urns on the sides of the fountain.

 

The June 9, 1916, issues of the Journal included an article encouraging people to respect and to protect the fountain.  It stated: “It is to be hoped that the fountain will be enjoyed by all and that the young and the old will feel and take civic pride to do individually what can be done to take care of it.” After having noted that the fountain “had been marred somewhat by some person placing a foot on it” and that some of the vines had been broken the article asserted “…let every thinking person consider himself a member of a community committee for its protection and be an example by word and strive to assist in this matter.” The article ended with the following statement: “This is a beautiful world and Mercersburg a beautiful portion of it; may her people do all that is possible to make it more beautiful.”

 

After the removal of the fountain from the Square it was lost for many years until Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grove in 1991 purchased it from an antique collector in Windber, Pennsylvania, had it restored, and in September 1993 had it placed on a lot on North Fayette Street that the Groves gave to the Borough of Mercersburg.  Given to the Borough and dedicated on September 24, 1994, the fountain with flowers provided by the Grove Family Foundation is once again delighting residents and visitors alike.

 

          Embedded in the fountain upon its installation on North Fayette Street is the cornerstone dated 1901 of the third church that stood on this site, a frame United Brethren Church.  The first, a log church that served both the German Reformed and the Lutheran congregations in separate services, was built on this lot between 1786 and 1804. These congregations in 1834 replaced the log church with a stone church that again served both until each congregation built its own church. Early in their history these two congregations, the German Reformed and the Lutheran, established the cemetery which remains behind the fountain and is in the care of Trinity United Church of Christ and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

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