Temple Memorial Drinking Fountain - Fredericton, NB - Converted Fountains on Waymarking.com

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Temple Memorial Drinking Fountain - Fredericton, NB

in Converted Fountains

Posted by:  T0SHEA

19T E 683155 N 5092338

On the north side of Queen Street and just to the west of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, this was once a drinking fountain for “man and beast”.

This drinking fountain for “man and beast” was donated to the city of Fredericton in 1899 by a one time sheriff, Member of Parliament and Senator, one Senator Thomas Temple. It was built to enable horses to drink from the large bowl on the side, while smaller bowls (since removed) were placed lower on the fountain for the use of smaller animals, such as dogs. On each end was a niche with fountains intended for human consumption.

Fashioned from large blocks of granite, one side of the fountain is inscribed with the following:

Presented By
Hon Thomas Temple
1899
Resting languidly on the casket shaped top of the fountain is a large bronze lion. One would think that his presence may have spooked more than one horse over the years.

Temple Memorial Drinking Fountain

Senator Thomas Temple presented this granite drinking fountain as a gift to the City of Fredericton in 1899. The edifice, topped with a bronze lion, is located on the north side of Queen Street and stands between the Crowne Plaza and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

In his last public act, the Hon. Thomas Temple turned on the water for this drinking fountain in August 1899. The Senator died soon after the unveiling of his gift to the city, and this fountain stands as a monument to his benevolence. His career in public service began when he was appointed Sheriff of York County, and even after serving in the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada, Temple was known locally as “the Sheriff.”

Senator Temple proposed donating a drinking fountain for “man and beast” in the spring of 1899. While the gift was readily accepted, its location proved controversial. Temple originally suggested it be positioned outside City Hall, but the Phoenix Square Fountain, a gift of former Mayor George E. Fenety (1885) occupied that site. Finally, the fountain was situated near Temple’s residence which stood at the northeast corner of Queen and St. John Streets.

The design of the fountain was inspired by one which stood in the square of the City of Toronto. Tayte, Meating & Co. of St. George, New Brunswick manufactured the fountain, using Spoon Island granite. John Oldham, of Oldham Bros. in Southampton, New Brunswick, and local stone mason, William Rossborough prepared the stone and concrete foundation for the granite fountain.

The base of the fountain was intended to serve dogs, while the curved basin accommodated horses. Water issued from side alcoves for human consumption.

703 Queen Street, The Temple Memorial Drinking Fountain, was added to the City of Fredericton's Local Historic Places Register on June 27, 2011.
From the Fredericton Local Historic Places Register