Milwaukee, WI

Ogden Ave. & North Water St.

We can now confirm that Milwaukee received received two fountains. We believe that one was installed at Ogden Ave. & North Water St. and the other was placed at Mitchell St, 8th & Forest Home Aves.

We've had the picture at the top from the Newberry Library for many, many years. However, until recently we did not know which one it was. Then Chad Czarkowski posted that the fountain on Water Street was still there into the 1960s, but disappeared when the land was cleared as the Park East Freeway was being built. Mark Daniel then posted that the fountain above is the one from Water Street and also noted that the land was to be used for the Park East Freeway, but it was torn down after only being partially built!

To summarize the timeline of the first donated drinking fountain for horses and dogs in Milwaukee in 1905:

Fountain Donation Timeline:

• April 18, 1905: The National Humane Alliance officially offers a granite drinking fountain to the city of Milwaukee. The mayor notifies the council, and the proposal is referred to committees for site selection.
• May 21, 1905: The city prepares to decide on the fountain's location.
• May 26, 1905: The city finalizes the location for the fountain.
• June 27, 1905: Disputes about the location are settled, confirming the site for the first fountain.
• July 21, 1905: Parts for Milwaukee's first fountain arrive.
• July 22, 1905: The fountain itself arrives in Milwaukee.
• July 30, 1905: The fountain is erected at the chosen site.
• July 31, 1905: The city begins setting up the fountain.
• August 9, 1905: The fountain is fully in place.
• August 10, 1905: The fountain is put into use for horses and dogs.

Here's a link to the newspaper articles related to this story.

And now Mark has come through again with a picture of the other fountain.

For more on the National Humane Alliance Fountains click here.