Confederate Memorial Fountain (Helena, Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Confederate Memorial Fountain |
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The memorial in April 2017
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| General information | |
| Type | Fountain |
| Address | Hill Park |
| Town or city | Helena, Montana |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 46°35′36″N 112°02′24″W / 46.59326°N 112.03992°W |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George H. Carsley |
The Confederate Memorial Fountain was a special fountain in Helena, Montana. It was the only monument in the Northwestern United States that honored the Confederate States of America. This fountain was built in Hill Park in 1916. It was later taken down on August 18, 2017.
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Building the Fountain
The idea for the fountain started in 1915. It was requested by a group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy. This group wanted to remember soldiers from the Confederacy. The city leaders in Helena approved the project.
A person named George H. Carsley designed the fountain. It was made from granite found in Montana. The fountain was officially dedicated on September 5, 1916. During the dedication, speakers talked about how people from the North and South were now united. They spoke about building a better country together. One speaker said, "I present this fountain to the city of Helena as a token of our esteem toward our new home."
The fountain had two messages carved into it. One said: "A Loving Tribute to Our Confederate Soldiers." The other read: "By the Daughters of the Confederacy in Montana, A.D. 1916." The fountain was updated in 1971 and again in 2008.
For a long time, this fountain was the only monument to the Confederacy in the Northwestern United States. There were a few other places or a dam with the word "Confederate" in their names. One school in Washington State was named after Robert E. Lee.
In July 2015, after a sad event in Charleston, some city leaders thought about changing the fountain's name. They considered calling it the "Civil War Memorial fountain." However, a local history group suggested keeping the original name. They thought it would be better to add information to explain its history. Helena's Mayor, Jim Smith, agreed to keep the name. By October 2015, they decided to add a sign to help people understand the fountain's background. Later, city officials talked about adding a sign with information from the Montana Historical Society. This sign would help explain the different historical views connected to the fountain.
Taking Down the Fountain
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In August 2017, after a large gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, some lawmakers from Montana asked the city of Helena to remove the fountain. These lawmakers included members of the Native American caucus in the Montana House of Representatives and the Montana Senate. They felt the fountain was a symbol that caused pain for some people. Other lawmakers from Helena also sent a similar letter. Because of these requests, the city commission asked the city manager to remove the fountain.
Not everyone agreed with removing the fountain. Bruce Whittenberg, who used to run a newspaper and was the director of the Montana Historical Society, thought the fountain should stay. He believed it could be a "teachable moment" to learn from history. Pam Attardo, a historic preservation officer, also disagreed with the removal. She felt the fountain itself was not "a symbol of hatred." Chere Jiusto, from the Montana Preservation Alliance, suggested moving the fountain to a different place. She thought it could be moved to a spot where people could learn more about its history.
The fountain was taken out of the park on August 18, 2017. About 15 to 20 people were there to protest the removal. Some of them had stayed in the park overnight. Some protesters carried different flags, including Confederate, Gadsden, Montana, and US flags. Two older protesters were arrested for getting in the way of the workers.
A New Fountain Takes Its Place
The old fountain was replaced by the Equity Fountain on April 27, 2020. Money to build the new fountain was raised by people in the community. This fundraising started on the same day the city decided to remove the old fountain. A Helena resident named Ron Waterman helped lead the fundraising effort. He also managed the process of choosing the artist who created the new Equity Fountain.
Images for kids
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The new Equity Fountain in Helena.
