Manistee County Courthouse Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Manistee County Courthouse Fountain
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Onekama Village Park, Onekama, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000065 |
| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1988 |
The Manistee County Courthouse Fountain is a beautiful old fountain. It is also known as the Memorial Fountain. You can find it in Onekama Village Park in Onekama, Michigan. This special fountain was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means it is recognized as an important historical landmark.
History of the Fountain
In 1878, a large courthouse was built in Manistee, Michigan. It was designed in a style called Victorian Gothic. Nine years later, in 1887, two fountains were placed outside this courthouse. They stood on each side, a little in front of the building.
These fountains stayed there for many years. But in 1950, the courthouse was destroyed by a fire. After the fire, a local group called the Portage Lake Garden Club stepped in. They were a club focused on making their community better. They decided to take one of the fountains.
The club moved the fountain to Onekama Village Park. It is thought that this fountain might have been made from parts of both original fountains. Only small pieces of the "other" fountain still exist today. The fountain was set up in Onekama in July 1950. Landscaping was added around it to make it look nice. It was officially dedicated in August 1951. Later, in 1974, the fountain was damaged. It was then removed, fixed, and put back in its place.
What the Fountain Looks Like
The Memorial Fountain is a fancy, decorative fountain. It is made from cast iron, which is a strong type of metal. The fountain stands on a solid concrete base. At the very top, there is a statue made of lead. This statue shows a merman riding on a dolphin. The merman is blowing a horn.
The entire fountain is about 77 inches (196 cm) tall. It is also about 88 inches (224 cm) wide. It has three levels, or tiers. The bottom level has a wide basin. A pedestal, which is like a stand, holds up the middle basin. Another pedestal supports the top basin and the merman statue.
You can see an inscription on the fountain that says, "Patented April 11, 1871." The basins are decorated with many designs. These include storks, cat-o'-nine tails plants, lily leaves, and flowers. There are also designs like acanthus leaves, flutes, and scallops.
