North Downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Watering Fountains

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

1. Watering Fountains Marker

Inscription. During the late 1800’s, the City of Charlottesville installed four watering fountains in the downtown area. The fountains were designed to provide water to the citizens, their horses and other domesticated animals. Water was provided by the City water system and fed through four fish-like features to the upper bowl. The overflow then filled the lower trough for the smaller animals. A fountain similar to this once stood in front of the courthouse on Jefferson Street and was removed a the time the Monticello Hotel was built in 1926. Through combined efforts of the Charlottesville Volunteer Fire Company and the City of Charlottesville, this fountain, one of the original four, was restored to this location November 2004.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.

Location. 38° 1.868′ N, 78° 28.622′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in North Downtown. It is at the intersection of 6th Street and East Jefferson Street, on the left when traveling south on 6th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charlottesville

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VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Public Library (here, next to this marker); Mercantile Business (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Hotels (within shouting distance of this marker); First Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Lynching in America / Lynching of John Henry James (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Old Swan Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bicentennial Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Courthouse Square (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

More about this marker.

Watering Fountain and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

2. Watering Fountain and Marker

Horses drank from the upper basin, dogs from the trough at the base. The fountain is no longer piped.

The fountain and marker are in front of the site of the first public library that dated from the early 1800s.

Charlottesville's Watering Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

3. Charlottesville's Watering Fountain

Click on the photo to examine the ironwork.

Sixth Street Buildings and Watering Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

4. Sixth Street Buildings and Watering Fountain

Watering Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 21, 2010

5. Watering Fountain

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 21, 2010

6. Watering Fountain

Henry F. Jenks
Pawtucket, R. I.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 21, 2010

7. Watering Fountain

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,809 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 7, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 10, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.