Burnside Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burnside Fountain |
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| Artist | Henry Bacon, architect Charles Y. Harvey, sculptor |
| Year | 1912 |
| Type | Fountain in two parts; basin and sculpture |
| Medium | Granite (basin) and bronze (sculpture) |
| Dimensions | 1.5 m × 3.7 m (5 ft × 12 ft) |
| Location | Worcester Common, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Owner | City of Worcester |
The Burnside Fountain is a unique fountain located in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can find it at the southeast corner of Worcester Common. It has two main parts: a large basin made of pink granite and a bronze statue. The statue shows a young boy riding a sea turtle.
The city of Worcester asked for the fountain to be built in 1905. Harriet F. Burnside had left $5,000 in her will to create a fountain. She wanted it to provide fresh water for horses and dogs. This was to honor her father, a well-known lawyer. The basin was designed by Henry Bacon, who later designed the famous Lincoln Memorial. The statue was started by sculptor Charles Y. Harvey. Sadly, he passed away before finishing it. Another sculptor, Sherry Fry, completed the bronze statue.
The fountain was first put in place in 1912. It was in Central Square. Later, in 1969, it moved to its current spot on Worcester Common. The statue has had an interesting history. It was stolen in 1970 but was put back two years later. There was another attempt to steal it in 2004.
The bronze statue is officially called Boy with a Turtle. However, most people in Worcester call it Turtle Boy. This nickname has made it a fun, unofficial mascot for the city. People often find the statue's look quite funny and unusual. Over the years, Turtle Boy has appeared in stories and songs. A music contest and even a special beer have been named after it.
Contents
What the Fountain Looks Like
The Burnside Fountain has two main parts: the basin and the sculpture. The basin is a large, rectangular shape made of pink granite. It has four big bowls carved into its top. These bowls were originally made for horses to drink water. There is also a smaller, lower bowl on the back for dogs.
The bronze statue sits on a round base in the middle of the basin. This sculpture is officially known as Boy with a Turtle. It shows a young boy, without clothes, riding on a sea turtle. In 1986, the city's parks department described the statue. They said, "The boy holding the turtle, his hair flying, a sly smile on his face, is charming and disarming."
Why the Fountain Was Built
Samuel Burnside was an important lawyer in Worcester in the 1800s. He had three daughters: Sophia, Harriet, and Elizabeth. These daughters became very well-known in Worcester. This was partly because of their father's success and wealth. After Samuel Burnside passed away in 1850, his daughters continued to do good deeds. They gave public gardens and a library to the city.
One of the daughters, Harriet Burnside, made a very special gift. In 1904, she passed away. In her will, she left $5,000 to Worcester. This money was to build a fountain to remember her father.
The Fountain's Journey Through Time
When Harriet Burnside left the money, she asked for the fountain to be a drinking spot. It was meant for both horses and dogs. The famous sculptor Daniel Chester French was first asked to design it. However, he was too busy. He suggested Henry Bacon design the basin. Bacon later worked with French on the Lincoln Memorial. The statue part was given to Charles Y. Harvey. Harvey had studied art in Rome and worked with other famous sculptors.
Charles Y. Harvey started working on Boy with Turtle in his New York City studio. He hoped it would be his best work. Sadly, he struggled with his feelings about the design. He passed away in January 1912. After his death, Sherry Fry, another artist, was asked to finish the statue. Fry completed the sculpture, and it arrived in Worcester with the basin in 1912.
There was a lot of talk about where to put the fountain. Central Square was chosen. There was no big ceremony when it was installed. The mayor at the time thought it was better to just start using it quietly. This was likely because of the sad circumstances of Harvey's death.
By 1912, cars were becoming more common than horses. So, the Burnside Fountain was not used much for its original purpose. People started suggesting it should be moved. Finally, in 1969, it moved from Central Square to the Worcester Common.
One year later, in May 1970, the statue was pulled off its base and stolen! It was found later that year. But it took until 1972 for the boy and turtle to be put back on the basin. In 2004, there was another attempt to steal it. The bronze statue was pushed off its base. Luckily, the city quickly fixed it within a few days.
In 2010, the Burnside Fountain was named one of the "25 Greatest Places in Massachusetts" by a local radio station. Around the same time, a group of volunteers started the "Turtle Boy Urban Gardeners." They work to keep the plants around the fountain looking nice.
Taking Care of the Fountain
In 1986, a report on public art in Worcester listed problems with the fountain. These included chipped stone, issues with the water system, and the bronze changing color. In 1994, another survey said the fountain needed urgent care.
As the fountain's 100th birthday approached in 2012, people wanted to fix it up. The cost to restore it was quite high. So, there were no official plans to fix it then. However, in June 2021, the outside of the fountain was treated. This helped restore the bronze to its original color.
"Turtle Boy" - A Local Legend
The statue on top of the Burnside Fountain is now widely known as Turtle Boy. Just like the famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, Turtle Boy has become a fun symbol for Worcester. Many people in the city love the statue because of its playful and unusual look.
Sometimes, people in Worcester like to dress up the statue. They put festive clothes on it for holidays. Local bands have even written popular songs about it. You can also find Turtle Boy on postcards of the city.
The popularity of Turtle Boy started not long after it was first installed. In 1916, the boy and turtle appeared in a children's book called The Cloud Bird. Each chapter of the book was about a different Worcester landmark. In one chapter, a little girl meets a Peter Pan-like character who is holding back the turtle. They then go on an adventure together.
By the late 2000s, "Turtle Boy" was a common phrase used to connect events and things to Worcester. A local music competition was called the "Turtle Boy Music Awards." A brewing company in Worcester even started selling a "Turtle Boy Blueberry Ale."
Kristina Wilson, an art professor at Clark University in Worcester, asked students what they thought of Turtle Boy. She explained that the sculpture was meant to show "innocence, joy, and rebirth." She also noted that the artist came from a time when showing the human body was seen as a high form of art. Professor Wilson mentioned that the statue's unique look sometimes makes people wonder what it means.
Because of its interesting and sometimes puzzling appearance, Turtle Boy often pops up on social media. The sculpture even appeared on comedian Daniel Tosh's blog.
See also
In Spanish: Fuente Burnside para niños
- Drinking fountains in the United States
- Aidan Kearney (journalist), known as Turtleboy, a nickname inspired by the fountain
External links
- Turtle Boy Music Awards
- Turtle Boy Urban Gardening
