Enterprise in Wallowa County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Benson Bubbler

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2011

1. Benson Bubbler Marker

Inscription. This drinking fountain, fondly known as a "Benson Bubbler", is one of only a few such historic bubblers located outside the City of Portland, Oregon.

Simon Benson (1851-1942), a Portland lumber baron, philanthropist and temperance advocate, donated $10,000 to the City of Portland in 1912 for the purchase of 20 bronze drinking fountains, thereby providing employees with an alternative to drinking alcoholic beverages during working hours. It is said that once the "Benson Bubblers" were installed, saloon sales decreased by 40%.

We gratefully acknowledge the Enterprise Merchants Association, the Cities of Enterprise and Portland, and the Rotary Club of Wallowa County for helping bring this fountain to our town.

Fountain in Memory of
Lawrence Evans
By Nancy and children
Linda, Byron, Duane, Vince

Erected by Family of Lawrence Evans.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 45° 25.523′ N, 117° 16.721′ W. Marker was in Enterprise,

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Oregon, in Wallowa County. It was at the intersection of West Main Street and SW 1st Street, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 199 West Main Strret, Enterprise OR 97828, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Eastern Oregon.

It was also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Nez Perce (approx. 0.9 miles away); 19 Dr. J.W. Barnard Drugs 08 (approx. 5.6 miles away); Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site (approx. 6.3 miles away); Putting Down Roots (approx. 6.3 miles away); Salmon for Trade (approx. 6.3 miles away); "Only the sounds of the horses..." (approx. 6.3 miles away); tiwi∙teqis (Old Chief Joseph) (approx. 6.7 miles away); Chief "Old" Joseph (approx.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2011

2. Benson Bubbler Marker

Marker is on the wall behind the bubbler.

6.7 miles away).

More about this marker. The marker and fountain were still in place in 2017, the last time I was in Enterprise, though the fountain was dry. Per Google Earth images the marker and fountain had been removed as of September 2023.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.