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 | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 1.5 m × 3.7 m (5 ft × 12 ft) |
| Location | Worcester Common, Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Owner | City of Worcester |
The Burnside Fountain is a special fountain located at the Worcester Common in Worcester, Massachusetts. It has two main parts: a pink granite basin and a bronze statue. The statue shows a young boy riding a sea turtle.
The basin was designed by Henry Bacon, who also designed the famous Lincoln Memorial. The statue was started by sculptor Charles Y. Harvey. Sadly, Harvey passed away before finishing it, so Sherry Fry completed the bronze statue.
The city of Worcester asked for the fountain in 1905. This happened after Harriet F. Burnside left $5,000 in her will. She wanted a fountain to give fresh water to people, horses, and dogs. It was built to honor her father, who was a well-known lawyer. The fountain was set up in 1912. It was moved to its current spot in 1969. The statue was stolen in 1970 but put back two years later. Another attempt to steal it happened in 2004.
The bronze statue is officially called Boy with a Turtle. But most people in Worcester call it Turtle Boy. It has become an unofficial mascot for the city. It's a bit like the Manneken Pis statue in Brussels. Over its 100 years, the Burnside Fountain has been in stories and songs. A music contest and even a drink have been named after it!
Contents
What Does the Burnside Fountain Look Like?
The Burnside Fountain is about 12 feet wide and 5 feet tall. It has two main parts: the basin and the sculpture. The basin is made of pink granite and is shaped like a rectangle.
On top of the basin, there are four large bowls. These bowls were first made for horses to drink water from. There is also a smaller, lower bowl at the back. This one was designed for dogs to use.
The bronze statue sits on a round base in the middle of the basin. The statue is officially called Boy with a Turtle. It shows a young boy riding 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 Was the Fountain Built?
The Burnside Fountain was built because of a special gift. Samuel Burnside was a very important lawyer in Worcester. He had three daughters: Sophia, Harriet, and Elizabeth. These daughters were known for their good deeds in the city.
They were famous partly because of their father's success and wealth. Even after Samuel Burnside died in 1850, his daughters continued to help the community. They gave public gardens and a library to Worcester.
One of the most famous gifts came from Harriet Burnside. When she passed away in 1904, she left $5,000 in her will. This money was for the city of Worcester to build a fountain. It was meant to be a memorial to her father.
The Fountain's History
When Harriet Burnside left money for the fountain, she asked for it to be a drinking trough. 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 did help supervise the project, though.
French asked Henry Bacon to design the basin. Bacon later worked with French on the Lincoln Memorial. The statue of the boy and turtle was given to Charles Y. Harvey. Harvey had studied art in Rome and worked on other important sculptures.
Charles Y. Harvey started working on Boy with a Turtle in his studio in New York City. He believed this would be his best work. Sadly, he died in 1912. Another artist, Sherry Fry, was then asked to finish the statue. Fry followed Harvey's original plans.
The finished statue and basin arrived in Worcester in 1912. There was a lot of talk about where to put the fountain. They chose Central Square, near the Worcester Common. There was no big ceremony when it was installed. The mayor thought it was best to just put it into use quietly.
By 1912, horses and buggies were not used as much. So, the Burnside Fountain was not used for its original purpose very often. By 1939, people wanted the fountain moved to a better spot.
Finally, in 1969, the Burnside Fountain was moved from Central Square. It was placed on 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.
Another attempt to steal the statue happened in 2004. The bronze sculpture was knocked off its base. Luckily, the city fixed it quickly, and it was back in place within days.
In 2010, the Burnside Fountain was named one of the "25 Greatest Places in Massachusetts." Around the same time, a group of volunteers started the "Turtle Boy Urban Gardeners." They help keep the plants around the fountain looking nice.
For many years, the Burnside Fountain has needed repairs. In 1986, a city report listed problems like "chipped stone" and "rust staining." In 1994, experts said its condition needed "urgent treatment." As of 2012, there were no plans to fix the fountain. The cost to restore it was estimated to be between $40,000 and $60,000.
The Famous "Turtle Boy"
The statue on top of the Burnside Fountain is now usually called Turtle Boy. Just like the Manneken Pis in Brussels, Turtle Boy has become a special mascot for Worcester.
Sometimes, people in Worcester secretly dress the statue in fun clothes for holidays. Local bands write popular songs about it. You can even find the statue on postcards of the city!
The popularity of Turtle Boy started soon after it was put in Central Square. In 1916, the boy and turtle appeared in a children's book called The Cloud Bird. Each chapter of the book was about a landmark in Worcester. In one chapter, a girl meets a faun who holds back the turtle. They then go on an adventure riding the turtle.
By the late 2000s, "Turtle Boy" was a common name used to connect things with Worcester. A local music contest was called the "Turtle Boy Music Awards." Also, a company in Worcester started selling a "Turtle Boy Blueberry Ale."
Images for kids
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Boy with a Turtle after its restoration in 2021.
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Turtle Boy wearing a winter scarf
See also
In Spanish: Fuente Burnside para niños
