Harris Fountain dedication set for mid August in downtown Rochester

The long, strange journey of the Harris Fountain is about to come to an end in downtown Rochester. Think of it as the prodigal drinking fountain coming home.

"The Harris Fountain is reassembled, cleaned and looking good," says June Hopaluk, a member of the Rochester Historical Commission.

The city plans to hold a dedication for the fountain at 2 p.m. on Aug. 17 in front of the municipal complex. The event will feature descendants of Samuel Harris (who gave the fountain to Rochester in 1917) and Civil War re-enactors firing an era cannon in honor of the fountain.

The locally famous drinking fountain has been moved five times since Rochester-native Harris gave it to the then village. Harris served as a cavalry lieutenant under Gen. George Custer during the Civil War. He eventually went onto become a successful businessman in Chicago before coming back to Rochester to give the fountain to the town.

It has since been set up at 4th and Walnut streets, in front of the old American Legion Hall at University Road and Walnut and on the east end of the Mt. Avon Cemetery. The city moved it to downtown near the World War II memorial so more people can appreciate it.

Source: June Hopaluk, member of the Rochester Historical Commission.
Writer: Jon Zemke

Harris Fountain dedication set for mid August in downtown Rochester

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