USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 63
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tion with regard to the use of the market space delayed the work. It was at first contemplated and the ordinance so provided that the fountain should be erected in the square between Main and Walnut. The use of this square by the street railroad tracks and the fact that it was II feet narrower than the square next west sug- gested a change to the square between Vine and Walnut. Here, however, was the dilapidated Fifth street market house already declared a nuisance by the Board of Health but regarded by fifty or more butchers and market men as their peculiar property.
In 1869 Mr. Probasco received from the foun- dry in Munich a bronze model of the fountain and on Washington's Birthday he invited the City Council to his residence in Clifton with the view of showing them the model and discussing the proposed change .of location. The mayor and nearly all the members of both branches of the Council spent the afternoon with Mr. Pro- basco. After examining the magnificent library and the superb works of art for which the house was noted, the company witnessed the unveiling of the model in the main hall and listened to a description of the work and its history by Mr. Probasco. Drawings prepared by William Tins- ley the architect were exhibited showing the diffi- culties of the situation. After this, in accord- ance with the universal American custom of dining before transacting public business, the party partook of a collation. This was followed by toasts responded to by the mayor, Mr. Pro- basco and a number of others all to the general effect that the market house must give way to the fountain. Three of the gentlemen who spoke so ardently in favor of the plan subsequently voted against it after the effects of the collation had passed away.
On March 5, 1869, an ordinance was passed amending the original ordinance so as to locate the fountain between Vine and Walnut and to provide for proper granite posts for its protec- tion. The auditor was directed to make no more leases for market space and was also directed to advertise the old market house for sale. The occupants of the market house thereupon insti- tuted legal proceedings against the city to pre- vent the removal of the structure on the ground that some of the deeds by which the city had ac- quired the land required the maintenance of the market house there. The facts were that in 1827 the city for the purpose of enlarging its market space widened Fifth street between Vine and Walnut to Lyt feet by taking 75 feet of
land on the southern side. The 66 feet to the north formed part of the original street. The market house was more than 60 feet wide alnost in the center of the space and extended almost the whole length of the square. The title to the eastern half of the extra 75 feet was not limited in any way. The western half was made up of seven lots. As to the lot on the corner of Fifth and Vine there was no restriction. Another deed declared that the conveyance was for a market space and the other five in a general way declared that the conveyance was for the sole use and purpose of erecting a market house and for market space and for no other use and purpose whatever. The original order of the city covered merely the eastern half to which there was no restriction but it was generally understood and of course was necessary that the whole space should be kept open for the foun- tain. On February 1, 1870, the Supreme Court rendered a decision in favor of the city, giving it the right to move the market house and keep the space open. (18 O. L. S., 563.)
At the meeting of the Council on February 24th by a vote of 25 to 8 the superintendent of the street cleaning department and chief of police were ordered to have the market house removed. These officials had already been notified the even- ing before to have their men in readiness and as a result Colonel Robinson, superintendent of the street cleaning department, had go men with axes, picks and crowbars and the chief of police, 50 policemen ready for action. Immediately after the issuing of the order, this force started for the market house. None of the 54 butchers who occupied stalls had any suspicion of such immediate action. Some were clearing up after their day's work and meat was hanging in some of the stalls. A committee of butchers was at that time at the office of the city solicitor, en- deavoring to ascertain if the city expected to take any further proceedings. When Colonel Robinson's force accompanied with wagon loads of tools and hooks and ladders from the fire de- partment filed into the market space, it created a great sensation and a crowd collected at once but the police kept it at a proper distance. The workmen immediately went to work, tore down the stalls and benches and signs, after which they climbed along the shed and in 43 minutes from the time the order was passed by the City Coun- cil the Fifth street market house was without a roof. During the work on the east end of the roof, four men lost their footing and fell through the rotten ceiling but none was seriously injured.
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Colonel: Robinson himself met with a similar accident but was not seriously hurt. After the roof had gone, the brick pillars of the old rook- ery were undermined and section after section fell to the accompaniment of comments of ap- proval on the part of the bystanders. Naturally the merchants about the place were pleased and this satisfaction was shared by all the citizens except those who occupied the stalls. By six o'clock the market house was a mass of ruins which were almost immediately removed by the poor people to be used as kindling wood. A piece of timber was stuck up at the west end on which was inscribed in chalk "Born in 1827 and died in 1870."
Excavation for the foundation of the fountain was commenced in the spring and a fence was placed around the space which remained there until October 5, 1871, the evening before the fountain was unveiled and formally presented to the city. On Tuesday, July 12, 1870, the cor- ner-stone was laid by Mr. Probasco in the pres- ence of about twenty men, prominent citizens present by invitation. At II o'clock Mr. Pro- basco carrying a glass of ice water descended into the excavation accompanied by Mr. Tinsley the architect and followed by the invited guests each with a glass of water in his hand. . Mr. Probasco placed the stone, after which he made a few remarks dedicating the fountain to the people with the hope that they would cherish and protect it as their individual property as the means of advancing the public taste and health and morals for the present and for the genera- tions to come. He thereupon struck the hammer with three blows repeating each name of the Trinity and the "Amen" was responded to by the whole company who thereupon drank to the success of the fountain. Each person then threw from his glass a small quantity of water on the stone and after cheers for the speaker and his noble enterprise the ceremony concluded.
The original plan contemplated an ellipse sur- rounding the fountain of 79 by 54 feet but on October 28, 1870, Mr. Probasco, calling atten- tion to the fact that the superstructure and the foundation of the platform as well as the cool- ing system were nearly completed, presented the plan for a superb esplanade, clean, comfortable and safe for women and children to be 400 feet long and 62 feet 6 inches wide, to be made of free- stone. This was to have one step about one foot .
above ' the street and to be surrounded by 44 posts in which should be placed trees which within a very few years would give shade and beauty
to the square and comfort and pleasure to the people. It was estimated that this would cost $20,000 less, from which of course was to be deducted the expense of paving the square in accordance with the original plan. This plan was approved and money appropriated by the city. In July of the following year a number of the gentlemen owning property in the neighbor- hood of Fountain square, including D. K. Este, R. R. Springer, W. W. Scarborough, W. P. Hulbert, F. Bodmann, J. Simpkinson and others, proposed a banquet and a presentation of a silver service to Mr. Probasco upon the occasion of the formal presentation of the fountain to the city. On July 8th, Mr. Probasco addressed a letter to Mr. Hulbert expressing his gratification at the proposed plan but declining the honor. On the same day Mr. . Probasco issued a card inviting a number of friends to view the work on the anniversary of laying the foundation on July 12th. The bronze work had not arrived at that date but the porphyritic base, the rim of the base and the pedestals of the drinking foun- tain were in place and the latter were dispensing ice water. A beautiful bronze model of the foun- tain was exhibited. A platform covered by an awning had been erected and at the appointed hour Mayor S. S. Davis and Mr. Probasco as- cended the platform. Both these gentlemen de- livered appropriate addresses which were fol- lowed by remarks from Gen. E. F. Noyes and Enoch T. Carson. Thereupon the gentlemen were served with ice water and the ladies with the same in which was a mixture of lemon juice and sugar. After copious libations, A. M. Gris- wold the humorist well known as the "Fat Con- tributor" made a few remarks of a humorons character upon the subject of ice water, the gen- eral purport of which was to the effect that ice water had been introduced in Cincinnati for the first time upon that day. Other speakers were Flamen Ball, George Graham and Peter Gibson.
The bronze work of the fountain arrived in September in charge of Ferdinand von Miller the son of the founder who was received by the citizens generally and particularly by his fellow countrymen with great cordiality. On one occa- sion he was serenaded by the German singing societies including the Orpheus, Maennerchor. St. Cecilia, Liederkranz, Turners, Harugari. Druids and the Odd Fellow singing societies. who formed in line at the Saenger Ilall and marched to the Burnet House with nmisic and torches. When the procession reached the Bur- net House, it minibered 5,000 people.
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The fountain was presented to the city of Cin- cinnati with appropriate ceremonies on October 6, 1871. The arrangements were in charge of the Board of Trade. Chamber of Commerce and Common Council. About the esplanade were temporary seats sufficient in number to accom- modate 4,000 people. Each seat was especially marked and cards of invitation were issued, each calling for a specified seat. The grand stand was on the north side of the square facing the fountain and about the square the occupants of stores had built platforms over the sidewalks and had decorated their buildings with flags, models and transparencies. The fence was re- moved and the fountain covered with a white canvas. The procession coming from the Burnet House entered the square from Vine street es- corted by the German Battalion under command of Col. Gustav Tafel. This battalion wore the spiked helmet of the Prussian army and took position on the south side of the fountain. The members of the city government had seats assigned to them at the right of the speakers' stand. The enormous crowd that had gathered made it impossible for the police to control the seats and within a few minutes the whole square was packed and the balconies, windows and roofs from Vine to Main street were filled with people estimated at more than 20,000 in number. The exercises continued for more than an hour and a half, during which time the best of order pre- vailed. The chairman of the committee of ar- rangements, George F. Davis, opened the exer- cises after which followed addresses by Arch- bishop Purcell, Governor Hayes, Hon. William S. Groesbeck and Rev. Dr. Lilienthal, inter- spersed with musical selections and the singing of an ode composed by Lewis J. Cist by the ,pupils of the High School. Then followed the presentation of the fountain to the city by Mr. Probasco who introduced Colonel von Müller who delivered a brief address. After Mr. Probasco concluded his remarks, Mayor Davis accepted the gift on behalf of the city. At the conclusion of his remarks, Colonel von Müller drew the cord and loosed the knot which secured the canvas at the top of the fountain. As the canvas fell the fountain beautiful in its bright shining bronze with jets of water descending from the central figures and from the drinking fountains ap- peared to arise from a white cloud. The im- pression made upon the assemblage by this scene of extraordinary beauty was most marked. The crowd lingered for hours and it was thought that at no time before 10 o'clock in the evening were
there less than 10,000 persons in the square. At night the buildings in the neighborhood were il- luminated, and transparencies linking the names of Probasco, Davidson and von Müller were exhibited. Music was furnished by the barracks' band from Newport and the fountain was il- luminated by colored lights and fireworks of every description. In the evening the band from the exposition then in progress serenaded Mr. Probasco and Colonel von Müller at the Burnet House. A few mishaps occurred during the day to mar the proceedings. Several sections of seats fell, injuring a few persons but fortunately kill- ing no one.
An ordinance was subsequently passed regulat- ing the care of the fountain and by resolutions the city solicitor was instructed to prepare an ordinance making the municipal name of Fifth street between Main and Vine, Probasco place. Colonel von Müller bade ' farewell to the city on October 14, 1871, expressing in his farewell letter to the citizens thanks for the reception tendered to him and special admiration for the men who had worked with him in the construc- tion of the fountain,-Messrs. Tinsley, Grave- son, Gibson, Allison and Earnshaw, whose names should always be remembered in connection with this most beautiful bronze.
The design of the fountain represents a reac- tion from the pseudo-classical tendency of the carlier half of the toth century. A not nin- teresting story is told with regard to it. Some- time about 1840 a number of artists were in the habit of meeting at the house of the bronze founder Herr Ferdinand von Müller, where they discussed art from the historical, esthetic and in fact from every point of view. Among them was one particularly prominent for his fund of imagination and freshness of ideas. This was August von Kreling afterwards the director of the art school in Nuremburg and the son-in-law of Kaulbach. On one occasion when the con- versation turned to work in bronze von Müller expressed the view that the fountain afforded the best opportunity for the expression of the bronze founder's art Ile also gave in a general way the outlines of a conception which he had in mind, that of a fountain representing the bless- ing of water having a genius on top from whose fingers this great gift should fall. Von Kreling thought the idea a good one and especially adapt- ed to representation without the use of the old figures of the Tritons, Nereids and the other mythological personages. This precipitated a discussion. as a result of which von Kreling
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evolved a design of a fountain representing his ideas. It excited the admiration of his acquaint- ances and von Mueller was most anxious to put it into bronze but at no time did the opportunity offer itself nor were funds available for so large an undertaking. The old plan was laid aside for many years and was almost forgotten when in 1866, nearly a quarter of a century after the discussion, an American introducing himself as Henry Probasco of Cincinnati came into the foundry at Munich and stated that he desired to erect a monument in memory of his deceased brother-in-law, Tyler Davidson, and that his choice was a public fountain. The founder made various suggestions including the embodiment of historic and mythological ideas but none of them seemed to appeal to Mr. Probasco, who fin- ally began talking about a glass window in a church. In this critical moment von Müller remembered von Kreling's fountain. No sooner had Mr. Probasco grasped the fundamental idea of this work than his mind jumped to the con- clusion that here was exactly what he wished. As the time was limited it was found necessary to impress not only Director von Kreling into the work but the two sons of the bronze founder who designed the children in the niches of the socle and the boys of the drinking fountain. The Franco-Prussian War took 12 of the best foun- drymen away as well as the son Ferdinand but after its conclusion the work was hastened and as a result the four men,-the bronze founder, his two sons and the sculptor,-produced a mas- terpiece of art which to-day stands preeminent throughout the whole world among the works of its class. Many difficulties presented themselves and were overcome. The base ind border of the fountain, made of the beautiful porphyry from the Fichtel Mountains, a stone which combines the most beautiful colors and the finest polish with an almost inconquerable hardness and dur- ability, were constructed of blocks some of which weigh 18,000 pounds and which at first no ship would venture to carry. Finally the Bremen line of steamers took them one at a time and at length, as has been already described, the work was taken a distance of four thousand miles and here set up under the direction of one of the ar- tists who had participated in the design.
The superstructure when the basin is filled weighs about 200 tons which has made necessary most massive foundations. In these foundations are subterranean chambers where is held the ap- paratus for regulating the flow of water as well as a cooling chamber. The exterior dimension
of the circular basin is 43 feet and the interior 38 feet. The rim is of porphyry, which material is used in the pedestals of the drinking fountain. The base on which the fountain stands is com- posed of eight blocks of Bavarian porphyry weighing more than 40 tons, fitted together with perfect precision at the angle of the curves. The fountain itself is wholly of bronze cast from cannon purchased of the Danish government. The metal is of the finest quality both in texture and color and the mass weighs about 24 tons. In the pedestals are four bas relief representations of the uses and benefits of water,-steam, water power, navigation and fisheries. At each corner is a niche in each of which is a child partaking of the pleasure of water. One is a girl adorning herself with pearls, another a boy putting on his skates, the third a girl listening to the music of a shell and fourth a boy taking a lobster from his net. These figures were 'designed by Fred- erick von Müller, the eldest son of the founder. About the pedestal are fluted basins ornamented with shells, coral and wreaths of water lilies. From the center of the pedestal rises a . shaft spread at the top with interlaced vines and fol- iage and about these are four groups. On the north is a workman standing upon a burning roof and imploring the aid of water; at the south is a farmer standing in the midst of a field, where are plainly seen the effects of a drought,-he too is praying for rain. Upon these two groups the Genius of Water is dropping a gentle spray. At the west a young girl is offering the water to an old man with crutches. The face of the girl is said to be that of von Kreling's daughter. On the east side is what is regarded as the most beautiful group of all. A mother partially nude is leading her naked and sportingly reluctant boy to the bath. The modeling of these figures is exquisite and the group is in it- self a masterpiece. The figures about the base are all of heroic size, some measuring seven feet in height. The central and crowning figure is that of the Genius of Water, a female in flowing robes standing over all with outstretched arms from which fall the life-giving spray. The ex- pression of the face is most beneficent and the whole conception is of surpassing grace. The figure is nine feet high and weighs two tons. On the northern die of the pedestal is the name "Tyler Davidson," on the southern "Henry Pro- basco," on the eastern "To the People of Cin- cinnati," on the western "MDCCCLXXL." On the drinking fountains are figures of mide boys -one riding a dauphin, another playing with
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ducks, a third struggling with a snake and the fourth on the back of a turtle. These figures are the work of Ferdinand von Müller. The entire height of the fountain including the por- phyritic base is 43 feet of which the bronze por- tion is 38 feet. . Mr. Probasco's original es- timate of the cost was $30,000 in gold. The actual cost was almost four times that sum. (See pamphlet, The Tyler Davidson Fountain, 1872.)
For more than 30 years this marvelous work of art has done its share towards uplifting the ideals of the people. Many thousands pass it cach day and each passerby is unconsciously af- fected by it. At times suggestions have been made looking to its removal to some of the out- lying parks and the argument has been advanced that in its present position in the midst of a crowded city it does not receive proper attention from the hastening throng. Such a claim is based on an entirely false conception both of the work itself which is particularly adapted for its location and of the manner in which esthetic in- fluences make themselves felt. It has been said that the great love for the beautiful resulting in the most exquisite creations that art has given to man which so characterized the Greeks came from the constant association with beauty rather than from a study of it. The exquisite perfec- tion to which they brought their representation of the human figure has been charged to the daily associations of the public baths where all unconscious of any impropriety the people were brought into contact with the highest embodi- ment of beauty-the human forin. In the same way the many thousands who daily pass the Tyler Davidson Fountain, apparently unconscious of its presence, are impressed by its beauty and learn its lesson. That lesson is all the more powerfully impressed upon the minds of those who receive it from the fact that they are un- conscious of the teaching. Environment is after all the greatest formative influence upon human character and it can be safely said that to 110 other influence does Cincinnati in its higher forms of development owe more than to the fountain.
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THE MUSICAL FESTIVALS.
The idea of holding a musical festival in Cin- cinnati was first discussed in the summer of 1872 and in the fall of that year an executive committee consisting of George Ward Nichols, president, and Carl A. G. Adac, Jolm Shillito, Bellamy Storer, Jolin Church, George W. Jones and Daniel B. Pierson was organized. A guar-
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antee fund was raised and in November it was announced that a festival would be held in the city in the following May. A circular of invi- tation was addressed to the choral societies of America, which met with hearty response and was accepted by 36 societies representing a mem- bership of some 1,250 singers. Theodore Thomas was placed in charge of the festival, a position which he has held ever since and Otto Singer came on from New York to take charge of the final preparation of the chorus, a trip which resulted in his residence for some years in this city. A festival was held in May, 1873, in the hall which had been erected for the Saengerfest of the North American Saenger- bund held in 1870. The first festival was a great success. It was given by an orchestra of 108 musicians under the charge of Mr. Thomas and a chorus of 700 leading soloists. This success resulted in the organization of the Cincinnati Biennial Musical Festival Association which or- ganization and its successor, the Cincinnati Alu- sical Festival Association, have been in charge of the festivals ever since.
This year ( 1872) was a smallpox year. There fell victims to this disease 1,179 of the inhab- itants. Another disease known as the epizootic attacked the horses. For several days not a street car moved in the city and on the 13th and 14th of November a citizens' organization was formed for the purpose of dragging the fire en- gines. This was a year of national conventions. One held for the purpose of amending the con- stitution so as to recognize Christianity was in February. Another convention was held in July of the National Society of Stove Manufac- turers.
THE GREELEY CONVENTION.
The opposition to the reelection of General Grant for the presidency in the year 1872 re- sulted in the formation of the so-called Liberal Republican party. This organization had its origin in the State of Missouri and a mass meet- ing held in that State in January, 1872, called a national convention to meet in Cincinnati on the first of May. This convention excited great interest throughout the country and it was at- tended by many men of national prominence. George Ward Nichols was the chairman of the local committee of arrangements and Gen. A. T. Goshorn, chairman of the citizens' committee. The convention was held at Exposition Hall and Mozart Hlall was also utilized in connection with it. The temporary chairman was Stanley Matthews and Colonel Nichols was one of the
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