Discovering the Hidden Stories Behind New York City’s Famous Fountains

Fountains in New York City are more than just decorative water features; many hold fascinating and sometimes scandalous histories. A new book, Fabulous Fountains of New York, explores these landmarks and reveals the intriguing stories behind their creation.

Some fountains were originally designed to provide water for horses, while others served purposes like discouraging excessive drinking. As one author noted, many were built with the hope that people would drink water instead of alcohol.

Two notable examples include the Robert Ray Hamilton Fountain in Riverside Park and the Firemen’s Memorial in Riverside Park. Hamilton, a descendant of Alexander Hamilton and a former New York assembly member, funded the fountain named after him. Its construction was delayed for years due to a scandal involving Hamilton’s romantic affair with a woman of ill repute, Evangeline Steele, who falsely claimed he was the father of her child. After a tumultuous relationship and a divorce that ended with violence, Hamilton fled to Wyoming and drowned in the Snake River in 1890. The fountain, topped with an eagle, was completed in 1906.

The Firemen’s Memorial, built in 1913, honors firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Its models were inspired by Audrey Munson, celebrated as the “American Venus” and a prominent figure in American sculpture. Her life story is tragic; after being tricked into marriage and involved in a scandal, she was institutionalized, where she remained until her death at age 104. Munson posed for numerous monuments across the city, although her later life was marked by hardship.

Another fascinating fountain is the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, built in 1873. Its sculpture, the Angel of Water, was created by Emma Stebbins, the first woman in the city commissioned for a major public work. Interestingly, Stebbins modeled her angel after her lover, actress Charlotte Cushman. Despite initial criticism, the fountain has become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, frequently appearing in films like “Gotham” and “Hair.”

Other notable fountains include the Lowell Fountain in Bryant Park, constructed in 1912 to honor social reformer Josephine Shaw Lowell, and the Pulitzer Fountain at Grand Army Plaza, funded by Joseph Pulitzer himself. The Pulitzer sculpture depicts the Roman goddess Pomona, which once offended local resident Alice Vanderbilt, who disliked having a view of it from her mansion.