Questions and Answers (Q&A) Forgotten Chicago Forum
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Chicago fountains
Posted by:
gborzo@comcast.net
()
Date: January 05, 2015 04:11PM
Greetings fellow Forgotten Chicago Fans!
I'm very interested in historical events, personal stories and colorful anecdotes about Chicago fountains. Did you ever find something unusual in a fountain? Did you ever fall (or were pushed) into one? Was that YOU who spiked Buckingham Fountain with LSD during the 1968 Democratic Convention(O r did you suffer/enjoy the effects)?
Please share you favorite Chicago fountain story(ies). If you don't have any, I'd like to hear any amusing, telling or poignant story you might have about a fountain in another city. Thanks, Greg Borzo (author of The Chicago 'L' and Chicago Cable Cars)
I'm very interested in historical events, personal stories and colorful anecdotes about Chicago fountains. Did you ever find something unusual in a fountain? Did you ever fall (or were pushed) into one? Was that YOU who spiked Buckingham Fountain with LSD during the 1968 Democratic Convention(O r did you suffer/enjoy the effects)?
Please share you favorite Chicago fountain story(ies). If you don't have any, I'd like to hear any amusing, telling or poignant story you might have about a fountain in another city. Thanks, Greg Borzo (author of The Chicago 'L' and Chicago Cable Cars)
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
()
Date: January 05, 2015 05:36PM
Well, back in the 70's someone kept slipping fluorescein dye into the Perlstein Fountain at IIT. Drove the maintenance guys crazy: they had to shut it down and drain the pumping loop every time it looked like the Chicago River on St. Patrick's Day.
Crazy engineering students...
(Of which I was one)
Crazy engineering students...
(Of which I was one)
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 05, 2015 07:09PM
One of the highlights of my weekend walks with my parents in the early 40s, was to stop and admire the Eli Bates Fountain in the Lincoln Park Conservatory Garden. At the age of three or four, I would often see people fishing in the lake at the North Avenue pier; and I guess, that it inspired me to try my luck fishing in the Bates Fountain. I thought I had seen on one occasion, gold fish swimming in the fountain's water. My amused parents went along with my supposed fantasy, and despite kids nearby laughing at me and saying "hey kid there aren't any fish in here", I confidently stood there, with a piece of string tied to a stick at one end and the other end immersed in the water at the fountain's edge.
http://www.lincolnparkconservancy.org/about_the_bates_fountain.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2015 07:34PM by nordsider.
http://www.lincolnparkconservancy.org/about_the_bates_fountain.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2015 07:34PM by nordsider.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 08, 2015 10:25AM
This fountain may be of interest - - The Rosenberg Fountain,
A fountain at the south end of Grant Park, was inspired by a newsboy's thirst on a warm day, and his failure to convince any his customers to offer to him a drink of water.
http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/planning-and-development.fountains-monuments-and-sculptures/Grant%20Park/Rosenberg%20Fountain.pdf
A fountain at the south end of Grant Park, was inspired by a newsboy's thirst on a warm day, and his failure to convince any his customers to offer to him a drink of water.
http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/planning-and-development.fountains-monuments-and-sculptures/Grant%20Park/Rosenberg%20Fountain.pdf
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 08, 2015 02:30PM
And also, a mysterious part-time Chicago fountain; the Waubansee Stone. In 1865 the stone was located Dearborn Park--east of Wabash between Washington and Randolph. It was "drilled and tunnelled for the water-pipes," making it into a fountain that symbolized Lake Michigan.
http://www.earlychicago.com/monuments.php?letter=W
http://www.earlychicago.com/monuments.php?letter=W
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
b.a.hoarder
()
Date: January 08, 2015 05:50PM
David, I wonder if you saw the program on H2, the History Channel's other outlet, about the Waubansee Stone. Scott Wolter is a researcher that travels around looking to debunk, or prove history as we know it. The name of the series is "America Unearthed" and Wolter also has the following blog-
http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who-carved-waubansee-stone.html
Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic at times, but never the less it can be interesting.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2015 06:54PM by b.a.hoarder.
http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who-carved-waubansee-stone.html
Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic at times, but never the less it can be interesting.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2015 06:54PM by b.a.hoarder.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
PKDickman
()
Date: January 08, 2015 06:50PM
b.a.hoarder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> David, I wonder if you saw the program on H2, the
> History Channel's other outlet, about the
> Waubansee Stone. Scott Wolter is a researcher that
> travels around looking to debuke, or prove history
> as we know it. The name of the series is "America
> Unearthed" and Wolter also has the following
> blog-
>
> http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who
> -carved-waubansee-stone.html
>
> Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic
> at times, but never the less it can be
> interesting.
I missed this one but I have seen the show before and "bit dramatic" is an understatement. I would have used the term "fringy".
This line from his blog will give an indication of his research prowess.
"In fact, at one point of what is now the Chicago River that flows into Lake Michigan, the river likely flowed directly out of the lake to the Mississippi."
However, having looked at his photo,
I must say that it bears a striking resemblance to General Henry Dearborn.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2015 07:06PM by PKDickman.
-------------------------------------------------------
> David, I wonder if you saw the program on H2, the
> History Channel's other outlet, about the
> Waubansee Stone. Scott Wolter is a researcher that
> travels around looking to debuke, or prove history
> as we know it. The name of the series is "America
> Unearthed" and Wolter also has the following
> blog-
>
> http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who
> -carved-waubansee-stone.html
>
> Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic
> at times, but never the less it can be
> interesting.
I missed this one but I have seen the show before and "bit dramatic" is an understatement. I would have used the term "fringy".
This line from his blog will give an indication of his research prowess.
"In fact, at one point of what is now the Chicago River that flows into Lake Michigan, the river likely flowed directly out of the lake to the Mississippi."
However, having looked at his photo,
I must say that it bears a striking resemblance to General Henry Dearborn.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2015 07:06PM by PKDickman.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 08, 2015 07:52PM
b.a.hoarder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> David, I wonder if you saw the program on H2, the
> History Channel's other outlet, about the
> Waubansee Stone. Scott Wolter is a researcher that
> travels around looking to debunk, or prove history
> as we know it. The name of the series is "America
> Unearthed" and Wolter also has the following
> blog-
>
> http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who
> -carved-waubansee-stone.html
>
> Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic
> at times, but never the less it can be
> interesting.
Larry,
I do watch the History Channel, but have not thus far, viewed H2. I have looked at the Waubansee Stone at the Chicago History Museum back in the 40s. The only thought I have regarding the stone's facial carving, is that since it's material has been described as red granite, and that "granite can only be carved by hand tools and requires skill to carve by hand with generally poor results;" that the tools required would not be available to the Indians living in the Chicago area, before the early 1800s. That's at least my theory, for whatever its worth. ;-)
I have also read, that while the "stone lay inside the Fort Dearborn stockade and from its top Daniel Webster, in 1837, delivered a speech." And of all the wild speculation that I have read about the stone, I like this the best.
https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjgVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&dq=The+waubansee+stone.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zFevVKikKsmTyASd_IDAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=The%20waubansee%20stone.&f=false
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2015 01:27AM by nordsider.
-------------------------------------------------------
> David, I wonder if you saw the program on H2, the
> History Channel's other outlet, about the
> Waubansee Stone. Scott Wolter is a researcher that
> travels around looking to debunk, or prove history
> as we know it. The name of the series is "America
> Unearthed" and Wolter also has the following
> blog-
>
> http://scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com/2015/01/who
> -carved-waubansee-stone.html
>
> Like most reality shows it can be a bit dramatic
> at times, but never the less it can be
> interesting.
Larry,
I do watch the History Channel, but have not thus far, viewed H2. I have looked at the Waubansee Stone at the Chicago History Museum back in the 40s. The only thought I have regarding the stone's facial carving, is that since it's material has been described as red granite, and that "granite can only be carved by hand tools and requires skill to carve by hand with generally poor results;" that the tools required would not be available to the Indians living in the Chicago area, before the early 1800s. That's at least my theory, for whatever its worth. ;-)
I have also read, that while the "stone lay inside the Fort Dearborn stockade and from its top Daniel Webster, in 1837, delivered a speech." And of all the wild speculation that I have read about the stone, I like this the best.
https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjgVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&dq=The+waubansee+stone.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zFevVKikKsmTyASd_IDAAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=The%20waubansee%20stone.&f=false
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2015 01:27AM by nordsider.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 10, 2015 10:11AM
A fountain that changed the City's obscenity law before it could be dedicated in 1913. The Fountain of the Great Lakes, located near the Art Institute, forced the Mayor, Carter Harrison, Jr., to propose an amendment to the City's law, because of objections to the nudity of the fountain's female figures.
http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/planning-and-development.fountains-monuments-and-sculptures/Grant%20Park/Fountain%20of%20the%20Great%20Lakes.pdf
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2015 08:43AM by nordsider.
http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/planning-and-development.fountains-monuments-and-sculptures/Grant%20Park/Fountain%20of%20the%20Great%20Lakes.pdf
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2015 08:43AM by nordsider.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
frworksonpaper
()
Date: January 11, 2015 01:12AM
Try this link
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=13574721353&searchurl=isbn%3D9781420858259%26cm_sp%3Dbot-_-plp-_-sr
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=13574721353&searchurl=isbn%3D9781420858259%26cm_sp%3Dbot-_-plp-_-sr
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 11, 2015 07:32PM
The Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
"During the dedication in August of 1927, John Philip Sousa conducted while his band played “Pomp and Circumstance” before an audience of 50,000 people."
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain/
"During the dedication in August of 1927, John Philip Sousa conducted while his band played “Pomp and Circumstance” before an audience of 50,000 people."
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain/
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: February 02, 2015 04:03PM
The Fountain by Night, the lagoon fountain at A Century of Progress; at the time - 1933 & 1934 - the largest fountain in the world; 670 feet long and illuminated at night by colored lights.
http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/uic_cop&CISOPTR=852&CISOBOX=1&REC=12
http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/uic_cop&CISOPTR=791&CISOBOX=1&REC=13
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2015 11:48PM by nordsider.
http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/uic_cop&CISOPTR=852&CISOBOX=1&REC=12
http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/uic_cop&CISOPTR=791&CISOBOX=1&REC=13
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2015 11:48PM by nordsider.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: February 05, 2015 08:07PM
The Centennial Fountain and Water Cannon, built in 1989, to celebrate the reversal of the flow of the Chicago River, to solve the problems caused by the city’s poor sewer system.
“The summit of the stepped granite pavilion represents the eastern continental divide (located just southwest of Chicago), with water flowing east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Gulf of Mexico.”
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=300+North+McClurg+Court,+Chicago,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.888904,-87.617426&spn=0.001649,0.002714&sll=39.739318,-89.266507&sspn=9.863297,22.236328&oq=300+North+McClurg+Court+Chicago&t=h&hnear=300+N+McClurg+Ct,+Chicago,+Illinois+60611&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.889009,-87.617584&panoid=lnqnOlpDYWNJixD81CPJhg&cbp=12,180,,0,0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Fountain
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2015 10:59PM by nordsider.
“The summit of the stepped granite pavilion represents the eastern continental divide (located just southwest of Chicago), with water flowing east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Gulf of Mexico.”
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=300+North+McClurg+Court,+Chicago,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.888904,-87.617426&spn=0.001649,0.002714&sll=39.739318,-89.266507&sspn=9.863297,22.236328&oq=300+North+McClurg+Court+Chicago&t=h&hnear=300+N+McClurg+Ct,+Chicago,+Illinois+60611&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.889009,-87.617584&panoid=lnqnOlpDYWNJixD81CPJhg&cbp=12,180,,0,0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Fountain
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2015 10:59PM by nordsider.
Re: Chicago fountains
Posted by:
gborzo@comcast.net
()
Date: February 11, 2015 07:24PM
Hi Nordsider,
Thanks for your postings and suggestions. You seem to know your fountains.
I found your story about fishing in the Storks at Play Fountain charming. Did you do this several times? Eventually get discouraged? Did you ever "catch" anything? That is, did your parents ever distract you and tie something to the end of your string, or anything like that?
Also, I would like to have your name so that I can attribute the story to an actual person.
If you'd like to discuss, please contact me at gborzo@comcast.net, 312/636-8968. Best regards, Greg
Thanks for your postings and suggestions. You seem to know your fountains.
I found your story about fishing in the Storks at Play Fountain charming. Did you do this several times? Eventually get discouraged? Did you ever "catch" anything? That is, did your parents ever distract you and tie something to the end of your string, or anything like that?
Also, I would like to have your name so that I can attribute the story to an actual person.
If you'd like to discuss, please contact me at gborzo@comcast.net, 312/636-8968. Best regards, Greg
