Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain
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The fountain in 2013
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Park and Fairfield Avenues, Bridgeport, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1912--1913 |
| Architect | Gutzon Borglum |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000706 |
| Added to NRHP | April 4, 1985 |
The Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain is a beautiful landmark in Bridgeport, Connecticut. You can find it where Fairfield and Park Avenues meet. This special fountain was built between 1912 and 1913. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 4, 1985.
The fountain has four main parts. In the center, there's a bronze statue of a mermaid. She holds a lamp high above her head. The mermaid rises from a shiny granite pool. Around the pool, there are three granite watering troughs. These troughs are decorated and sit at the corners of the triangular area. A famous American sculptor named Gutzon Borglum created this fountain. He also sculpted Mount Rushmore!
Why Was the Fountain Built?
The Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain was built as a gift to the city. It was given by the children of Nathaniel Wheeler in 1912–1913. They wanted to honor their father's memory.
Nathaniel Wheeler was an important person in Bridgeport. He was a main owner of Wheeler & Wilson. This company made some of the first sewing machines. Wheeler moved his factory to Bridgeport in 1856. He also helped with many city projects. He especially cared about making the city more beautiful.
Restoring the Fountain
The fountain needed some repairs over the years. In 2009–2010, it got a big makeover. The restoration cost about $199,000. Workers fixed damage caused by cars. They also made sure the water flowed again. Many other parts of the fountain were cleaned and repaired.
