Francis Griffith Newlands Memorial Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Francis Griffith Newlands Memorial Fountain
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Location | Chevy Chase Circle, N.W. Washington, D.C. |
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Built | 1938 |
Architect | Edward Wilton Donn |
NRHP reference No. | 07001058 |
Added to NRHP | October 12, 2007 |
The Francis Griffith Newlands Memorial Fountain is a historic fountain located in Washington, D.C.. You can find it at Chevy Chase Circle, right on the border between the Chevy Chase neighborhood in D.C. and the community of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
This fountain was designed by Edward W. Donn, Jr. in 1933. It was built and finished in 1938. The money for the fountain came from Newlands' wife after he passed away. Today, the National Park Service takes care of the fountain. It is part of the nearby Rock Creek Park.
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About the Fountain and Newlands
This fountain was built to honor Francis G. Newlands. He was a U.S. senator and also the person who started the community of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
In 1902, Senator Newlands helped create a law called the Newlands Reclamation Act. This law allowed the government to start bringing water to dry areas in the western United States. This helped farmers and communities grow in those regions.
Newlands also founded a company called the The Chevy Chase Land Company. This company created neighborhoods on the D.C.-Maryland border. He bought a lot of land, more than 1,700 acres, and named the area "Chevy Chase." He chose this name to honor his family's history in Scotland.
Concerns About Newlands' Views
It is important to know that Francis G. Newlands held some beliefs that are now widely seen as wrong. He supported the idea of white supremacy, which means he believed white people were superior to others. He also held antisemitic views, which means he was prejudiced against Jewish people. Newlands also supported segregation, which means keeping different racial groups separate. He even wanted to remove the 15th Amendment, which gives African Americans the right to vote.
Fountain's Rededication
In 1990, the Chevy Chase Land Company fixed up the fountain. They did this to celebrate 100 years since Chevy Chase was founded. The fountain was then officially recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
Efforts to Rename the Fountain
Because of Newlands' past views, there have been discussions about changing the fountain's name.
Early Renaming Discussions
In December 2014, a local group called the Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission talked about renaming the fountain. They wanted to change the name because of Newlands' white supremacist beliefs. The Historic Chevy Chase DC Board also supported changing the name to "Chevy Chase Fountain." However, Newlands' family members did not agree with the renaming. The local commission decided to put off the decision and discuss it later.
Plaque Removal
A bronze plaque on the fountain used to have words saying, "His Statesmanship Held True Regard For The Interests Of All Men." In 2020, the Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission voted to have this plaque removed. They felt the words did not match Newlands' actual beliefs and actions.
Recent Efforts in Congress
On February 23, 2021, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents Washington, D.C. in Congress, introduced a bill. A bill is a proposed law. Her bill would require the National Park Service to rename the fountain. This bill is called the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act. The Montgomery County Council also voted to support this bill in April 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Fuente conmemorativa Francis Griffith Newlands para niños