Back in 1876 there were plans in place to celebrate our centennial. The United States not only survived separation from England but managed to thrive. Many communities from the Atlantic to the Pacific were planning to celebrate in grand fashion, to honor their country, occupy their minds and move forward to a more civilized and unified land.
There was hardship still for this young nation, though the Civil War was over there was still controversy. Frederick Douglas, himself an ex-slave, worked diligently to unite all citizens equally and dedicated the Emancipation Memorial at a cost of $17,000. This very expensive tribute was paid for by many former slaves, people that placed others above themselves to leave this fitting legacy for future generations.
General Custer and his army were assigned in the western part of our country and he lost his life along with 300 other troops at the Battle of Little Big Horn. On May 5, 1877 Sitting Bull led his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid confrontation with the army, seeking peace for his people. Yes, there was sadness and controversy in 1876 as the Centennial was planned.
Ulysses Grant was concluding his second term as President and one of the most disputed presidential elections was settled via a compromise between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes.
While the country moved forward the citizens of Concord came together and decided that they would also like to leave a legacy for the future generations. They lived with hardship and controversy and did indeed want to occupy their minds and move forward. A committee was formed and much discussion followed. Both the city of Concord and state of New Hampshire politicians soon became very involved, and a vote was taken to honor our centennial with a simple granite and iron fountain on the State House lawn. It was simplistic and beautiful, certainly it would please the good people.
The fountain plans were finalized with financing approved by both the state Legislature and city of Concord. It was certainly beautiful with a height of 12 feet, topped by a boy cherub and a swan which spouted water. The water would flow into two granite basins with three herons perched on the top basin. In fact, the city of Concord was so pleased with this centennial fountain it was decided that they would provide the water piping to the fountain with “water forever,” free of charge to the state. It was grand, the people were pleased and construction was started in the middle of the center walkway.
The stone masons arrived with their fresh cut granite from Rattlesnake Hill. The gently flowing water cascading brought tranquil moments initially. Yes, peace, tranquility and a nation preparing to celebrate 100 years.
The fountain started to spout the free Concord water in late May 1877 without a formal dedication ceremony and the Concord Monitor noted that the new centennial fountain was being criticized by the “Sidewalk Committee” for having deficiencies. They said they liked having the swan jet a stream from its upraised mouth but the granite basin below was too small to catch the water so it poured onto the sidewalk and became a “menace to citizenry.” Efforts were made to lessen the power of the swans spouting, to little avail.
The nation celebrated this year and the fountain was certainly reveled for its beauty and meaning.
The year of celebration concluded and the young nation continued to mature. There were good years and the people of Concord did prosper, but there were years of sadness, too. Routine returned to our little city and there was work to be done. Immigrants were arriving and industry was growing.
We had a railroad and we were the center of much commerce. While the years continued to roll forward and our little fountain saw each season pass there was a sense of complacency in the State House yard. As with all plans, changes do come. The center walkway location only lasted until 1880 for some concern arose and the location was moved to the southeastern corner of the State House yard.
The fountain complacency did not go unnoticed by the young lads of the community and to the revulsion of the “Sidewalk Committee” the young minds converged upon the stately fountain … with plenty of soap and detergent.
The people of Concord arose the next morning and conducted business as usual, but there was much banter and laughter down on Main Street. The abundant supply of “free water” mixed with a good helping of soap had created bubbles … many bubbles. As a matter of fact, there were so many bubbles that the “Sidewalk Committee” was outraged while the people were highly entertained and the young lads were just delighted, so delighted that this event became somewhat common for the youth of Concord.
Legend has it that one evening a hapless politician did fall into the fountain and came close to drowning. With the ongoing “soaping” of the fountain and concerns for people that might fall into the fountain as well as the poor swan spouting outside of the basin the “Sidewalk Committee” remained concerned. There was ongoing discussion by the politicians surrounding the need to honor our own President Franklin Pierce. There was much additional discussion, but little opposition, to remove the Centennial fountain from the southeastern corner of the State House lawn and replace it with a bronze statue of President Franklin Pierce, which was dedicated Oct. 14, 1914.
There has been speculation over the years on the disposition of the Centennial fountain that once graced our State House lawn. I would like to think it was preserved for the swans to spout water well into the 20th century, though I do suppose there were a few frustrated members of the “Sidewalk Committee” that made short order of the disposal.
The next time you walk past the southeastern corner of the State House yard, take a moment to gaze at President Franklin Pierce, for I am sure he is still grinning at the thought of the controversial Centennial fountain that he did replace.