Southwest Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

The Shemanski Fountain

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

1. The Shemanski Fountain Marker

Inscription. The Shemanski Fountain [ ] to America at the age of [ ] in San Francisco. He came to Portland two years later and opened a small store on Third Avenue selling clocks; he slept in the back room. Over the years, Shemanski prospered in business selling men’s and women’s clothing from his Eastern Outfitting Company and confounded skeptics by successfully employing large numbers of immigrants to sell clothing on the installment plan. With brothers Isadore and Alfred in San Francisco and Seattle, Shemanski had interests in a number of other Eastern Outfitting stores along the Pacific Coast.

Joseph Shemanski was a public spirited and generous man. Tutored by Ben Selling, a widely known Jewish philanthropist, Shemanski was president of the Jewish Education Association, as well as Temple Beth Israel and Ahavai Sholom synagogues, and donated large sums of money to a broad range of charitable efforts in Portland.

At the suggestion of his friend and insurance agent, Constance “Connie” Mattingly, Shemanski petitioned the City Council to allow him to give the gift of a fountain to the citizens of Portland “to express in small measure gratitude

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for what the city has done for me.”

Carl L. Linde, a friend of Mattingly, was commissioned to design the fountain. He conceived an Italianesque trefoil design which was then drawn by designer Thayne Logan (see rendering at right). Linde was the architect for many fine residences, hotels and apartments including the Sovereign Hotel, part of the nearby block owned by the Oregon Historical Society.

An unusual aspect of the fountain’s design are the three small lower drinking basins, placed there because Shemanski said that horses had a place to water at the Elk Fountain (at Fourth and Main) but dogs and other pets had no place to quench their thirst.

The original design contained a large central planter, but after the fountain was erected, Shemanski felt that a sculpture would better complete the graceful cupola. He commissioned Oliver Laurence Barrett, an art professor at the University of Oregon, to undertake the bronze sculpture of “Rebecca at the Well.” It is not clear why Rebecca was chosen. But, as the wife of Isaac in the Old Testament famed for her hospitality to strangers and kindness to animals, she was a fitting choice for Joseph

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

2. The Shemanski Fountain Marker

The heavily damaged marker is located just to the south of the fountain.

Shemanski — a poor immigrant of Jewish background who had risen to prominence and wished to thank the city he loved.

The restoration of this fountain is due in part to the interest of Joseph Shemanski’s offspring. In 1987, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren generously offered the Park Bureau the funds that paid for this plaque and helped pay for the restoration efforts.

Over the years the fountain had deteriorated noticeably. The first step in restoring it was to repair the plumbing, accomplished in 1987 when the plaza was paved and the new base was poured. Next, the fountain was cleaned of sixty years’ worth of accumulated dirt and grime. Finally, missing pieces such as the urns and finials were replaced, chipped corners were repaired, and the entire structure was protected with a special sealant.

The fountain is made of cast stone, once quite popular for its versatility. The stone is mixed like concrete, incorporating a variety of aggregate and color pigments, and packed into molds. The finished pieces are then etched with acid to reveal the aggregate material. Richly detailed decorative features are possible using this process.

Because

The Shemanski Fountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

3. The Shemanski Fountain

As of 2026, the fountain has also been damaged, and "Rebecca at the Well" is no longer on view.

the stone is composed of a variety of aggregate materials and color dyes, matching color and texture can be difficult. The craftsmen at Architectural Reproductions, who did the restoration work, submitted close to fifty samples before an acceptable effect was achieved. This composition was used in the molds to recreate the missing pieces and to fill the broken edges and chipped corners.

The molds themselves are made using fragments that remained of the missing pieces. As the original pieces are symmetrical, only one quarter of the original piece is needed to recreate a duplicate mold.

Despite the resemblance to clay tiles, [ ] made in cast stone. It is [ ].

With continued care and attention, the fountain will be with us for many years, a testimonial to the great city that Portland has become and to the generous nature of its citizens.

Erected 1987.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.

Location. 45° 31.05′ N, 122° 40.925′ W. Marker has been damaged. Marker is in Portland, Oregon,

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in Multnomah County. It is in Southwest Portland. It can be reached from the intersection of Southwest Salmon Street and Southwest Park Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 811 SW Salmon Street, Portland OR 97205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Simon Benson (a few steps from this marker); Roosevelt Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Bicentennial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Congregational Church of Portland (about 400 feet away); Charles A. Sprague (about 500 feet away); The Washington Ellipse (about 500 feet away); Simon and Helen Director Park / Teachers Fountain (about 600 feet away); Theodore Roosevelt (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Also see . . . PRP Shemanski Fountain (PRP 99.1 FM, YouTube). (Submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.