WCTU DRINKING FOUNTAINS
At the 1874 organizing convention of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the members were urged to erect drinking fountains in their towns so that men could get a drink of water without entering saloons and staying for stronger drinks. Often the drinking fountains that were erected offered a place for horses to drink, another place for dogs, and of course, a place for humans to drink. Many of these fountains are still in existence - some still giving water. Several have been restored within the last few years. A booklet with stories and pictures is available from orders@signalpress.org for $7.00 plus postage and handling.
Here is the list of the fountains that have been identified. If you know of the existence of another one, please contact Sarah Ward by E-mail at sfward@embarqmail.com.
The first new one to be identified since the booklet was printed is located in Spring Lake, Michigan. The City Council plans to restore the fountain so we hope to have a picture in the near future.
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The second "newly discovered" fountain is in the south wing on the main floor of the Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia and was erected by the Georgia Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1923.
The inscription reads:
Mary Latimer McLendon
June 24, 1840 - November 20, 1921
Mother of suffrage in Georgia
Pioneer leader in the temperance cause
She made the world a wider world for
Women, a safer world for all mankind
She had the will to serve and bear
Love to do and dare
To live in the hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
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| Alabama: | Huntsville |
| Australia: | Melbourne |
| Canada: | Brockville, Kingston, and Quebec City |
| California: | Arcata, Fowler, Hanford, Madera, Ontario, Orange, Petaluma, Reedley, Riverside,
Selma, Watsonville |
| Delaware: | Rehoboth Beach |
| England: | London |
| Florida: | St. Petersburg Museum of History |
| Georgia: | ** Atlanta, Griffin |
| Idaho: | Boise |
| Illinois: | Chicago, Decatur, Dixon, Sullivan |
| Indiana: | Bloomington |
| Iowa: | Edgewood, Shenandoah |
| Louisiana: | Baton Rouge |
| Maine: | Portland |
| Massachusetts: | Amherst, Brockton, Hadley, Lee, Leominster, North Attleboro, Orange,
Uxbridge |
| Michigan: | Detroit, Lansing, Lapeer, ** Spring Lake |
| Nebraska: | Red Cloud |
| Nevada: | Reno |
| New Jersey: | Cranbury, Newton, Ocean City, Salem |
| New Mexico: | Las Vegas |
| New York: | Allegheny, Avon, Chautauqua, Churchville, Fredonia |
| North Carolina: | Greensboro |
| Oregon: | Roseburg |
| Pennsylvania: | Bellefonte, Pen Argyl, Reading |
| Rhode Island: | Block Island, Cranston, Kingston |
| Virginia: | Richmond |
| Washington: | Anacortes, Olympia |
** New - Identified after printing of booklet
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