Bloomington in McLean County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Trotter Fountain
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 29, 2019
1. Trotter Fountain Marker
Inscription.
Trotter Fountain. . The Trotters, immigrants of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, were prominent Bloomington businessmen and philanthropists. John was a three-term mayor, and with his sister, Georgina, ran a thriving lumber, coal, and grain business on West Market Street near the family home. Georgina was the first woman elected to the Board of Education and was said to be the first woman to become a naturalized American citizen. The last surviving Trotter sibling, James, willed funds to the city for a statue to be erected in his family's honor. Trotter fountain was designed by the world renowned sculptor, Lorado Taft, of Illinois. Made of Georgia marble, it depicts Native American maidens and children, and was dedicated during a lavish celebration on May 30, 1911.
The Trotters, immigrants of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, were prominent
Bloomington businessmen and philanthropists. John was a three-term mayor, and
with his sister, Georgina, ran a thriving lumber, coal, and grain business on West
Market Street near the family home. Georgina was the first woman elected to the
Board of Education and was said to be the first woman to become a naturalized
American citizen. The last surviving Trotter sibling, James, willed funds to
the city for a statue to be erected in his family's honor. Trotter fountain was
designed by the world renowned sculptor, Lorado Taft, of Illinois. Made of
Georgia marble, it depicts Native American maidens and children, and was
dedicated during a lavish celebration on May 30, 1911.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1911.
Location. 40° 28.79′ N, 88° 59.527′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Illinois, in McLean County. It is at the intersection of East Washington Street and North East Street, on the left when traveling east on East Washington Street.
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Marker is next to the fountain in Withers Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 E Washington St, Bloomington IL 61701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. 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 and also the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2024
2. Trotter Fountain Marker
Georgina Trotter was born on August 15, 1836 in Drogheda, Ireland to John and Ann Trotter. The Trotter family was Irish Protestant and belonged to an aristocratic clan of agriculturists. Her father, a sister, and a brother came to America first in 1849 and settled in Chicago. In 1850 Georgina, her mother, and the rest of her siblings then came to America. (Emily Swartz, The McLean County Museum of History, 2011) (Submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Unknown; via City of Bloomington Economic Development Division (Public Domain)
3. Trotter Fountain
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 486 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
