Horse Fountain in Washington Park
Date: February 27, 2008 06:34PM
Have you run across a horse fountain in Washington Park? I'm reading an article from the "Sunday Chronicle" of April 5, 1896 that said a man was leaving money at his death to build an "ornamental drinking fountain, with equestrian features, to be placed at the corner of south Park avenue and fifty-fifth street...A bronze portrait figure, life-size, of his famous horse will stand, looking toward the east, to the spot where he won his victories, on the Garden City track; under him will be an elaborately ornamented drinking fountain of large holding capacity. Upon the base will be this simple inscription: "Ike Cook. One mile track. Time--2:30" It will be a superb work of art and its estimated cost is $50,000."
This same man also erected the "Eternal Silence" statue by Loredo Taft in Graceland Cemetery. I can't find if this horse fountain was ever built or what happened to it if it was. You sound like people who might know!
Thanks!