historicalnews1

Historical fountain move gets borough's OK

Structure set to return to former place in Washington.

Monday, December 23, 2002

By BILL BRAY
The Express-Times

WASHINGTON -- A piece of borough history has gotten official support for a return to Belvidere Avenue.

Borough council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the Washington Historical Society to move a granite fountain back to its original location in front of the old town hall at 37-39 Belvidere Ave.

For the past 50 years, the fountain has stood in the borough park off Route 31, unused and, according to some, under appreciated.

Society President Jeremiah Apgar approached council about the move in June. Apgar said the fountain would be a great addition to the downtown business district.

Erected in 1915 by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, officials removed it sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s. The monument served as a drinking fountain for people and a watering trough for horses, according to borough officials.

Apgar said the fountain was moved to allow larger firetrucks to enter the old borough hall that also served as the firehouse.

In June, council directed borough Engineer Robert Miller to determine the best place for the fountain. In a letter to council, Miller said he has no objections to bringing the monument back to its former home.

Council members had concerns that the fountain could be a traffic hazard if it's placed too close to the street.

Miller said the fountain would not interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The borough should determine the location of underground utilities before a final location is picked to avoid any interference, Miller said.

"I think it's a great idea," Mayor Mark Bond said of the move.

He said there are no plans to reconnect the fountain to a water supply.

Apgar said the society is still working on the details of the move. The sheer size of the monument is causing problems. Apgar said it weighs about 4 tons.

Many local monument companies have little or no experience moving such a large piece of stone, he said.

The society also wants to surround the fountain with six cast iron posts to protect it. Apgar said the pillars' price of $350 a piece is the lion's share of the project's cost.

( Donations of can be sent to Washington Historical Society, 110 Sunrise Terrace, Washington, NJ 07882. Jeremiah Apgar can be reached at 908-835-1176.