Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain is located in Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...

, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...

 at the intersection of Fairfield and Park avenues. The fountain was built in 1912–1913 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 on April 4, 1985. The fountain consists of four elements: a central bronze figure of a mermaid holding aloft a lamp and rising out of a polished granite pool and three individually ornamented polished granite watering troughs at the angles of the triangular parcel of land raised above the street. The fountain was a mid-career work of maverick American sculptor Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum was an American artist and sculptor famous for creating the monumental presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, the famous carving on Stone Mountain near Atlanta, as well as other public works of art.- Background :The son of Mormon Danish immigrants, Gutzon...

.

History

The fountain was erected in 1912–1913 as the gift of Nathaniel Wheeler
Nathaniel Wheeler
Nathaniel Wheeler was an American manufacturer and legislator.- Family background :...

's children to the city in memory of their father. Wheeler was a principal in Wheeler & Wilson
Wheeler & Wilson
Wheeler & Wilson was an American company which produced sewing machines.- Overview :Allen B. Wilson in 1849 made possible one of the world's greatest industries, and the sound administrative policy of Nathaniel Wheeler and his associates was responsible for the transformation of the industry from...

, an early manufacturer of sewing machines. In addition to moving his factory to Bridgeport in 1856, Wheeler had been active in many city affairs, including plans to beautify the city.

Restoration

The fountain underwent a $199,000 restoration in 2009–2010, in which vehicular damage was repaired and the flow of water was restored to the fountain among other refurbishments.

See also

  • History of Bridgeport, Connecticut
    History of Bridgeport, Connecticut
    The history of Bridgeport, Connecticut was, in the late 17th and most of the 18th century, one of land acquisitions from the native inhabitants, farming and fishing. From the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, Bridgeport's history was one of shipbuilding, whaling and rapid growth...

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Bridgeport, Connecticut
    National Register of Historic Places listings in Bridgeport, Connecticut
    This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bridgeport, Connecticut.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States...

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