Benson Bubbler facts for kids
Benson Bubblers are special bronze drinking fountains. They are named after a kind businessman named Simon Benson. Most of these fountains are found in Portland, Oregon, in the United States.
Simon Benson gave $10,000 in 1912 to buy and set up 20 of these fountains. A Portland architect named A. E. Doyle designed them.
Why Were Benson Bubblers Built?
Simon Benson had two main reasons for donating these fountains. One reason was that he hoped they would encourage people to drink water. This was especially true during lunch breaks.
Another reason came from something he saw. He once saw a girl crying at an Independence Day parade. She was upset because she could not find any water to drink. This made him want to help.
In the 1970s, the Benson family asked for a rule. They wanted new bubblers to be placed only in Downtown Portland. This was to keep them special and unique.
Where Can You Find Benson Bubblers?
Many people just call them "Benson fountains." Over the years, more bubblers have been made. They look just like the first ones.
When the Portland Transit Mall was built in 1976–77, 15 new Benson fountains were added.
The Portland Water Bureau says there are 52 "true" Benson Bubblers. Each of these has four bowls for drinking. You can find them all over downtown Portland.
Only two bubblers are outside of downtown Portland. In 1965, the City of Portland gave one to its sister city, Sapporo, Japan. The other is at the Maryhill Museum of Art. This museum is near Maryhill, Washington. It was placed there because Simon Benson's friend, Sam Hill, asked for it.
Portland also has 74 smaller fountains. These have only one bowl.
How Much Water Do They Use?
Most of the time, these fountains pour out a lot of water. They use almost 100,000 gallons of drinking water every day. They run all year long.
However, they are sometimes turned off. This happens during very cold weather. It also happens during long periods of summer drought. The Water Bureau turns them off to save water. This also helps remind people to use less water during dry times.
