Fountain Square Looking East

   One of the buildings you will see in many of these cards is the Pickering Building. That is the building you can see in the distance on the southeast corner of Main. This structure was well known because of the huge advertising signs that were placed on the roof. Of course there is the imposing Post Office building on the left side in the distance, (the street in front of it is known as government square). The Traction Building is the tall building on the right on the southeast corner of Walnut. The building on the southwest corner of Walnut was known as the Johnston Building. Of course there is the Albee Theater on the south side of Fifth St. You will see the sign for Peebles, "Dealers in Staple and Fancy Groceries, and Importers of Wine, Cigars." His store in Walnut Hills was so famous the area it was located is  now called Peebles Corner.
   I have had the photograph below hanging on my wall for many years. I thought it was about time I shared it with the rest of you.

Not a postcard

               
                                                                                               Night View            and          Day View            and           Night View

                       
Four real photos

  For almost a century, the Tyler Davidson Fountain stood in the middle of Fifth Street with traffic running on either side. By the 60's this configuration not only obstructed traffic, but was considered "old fashioned." In 1969, after 3 years of construction, the new Fountain Square was completed. The Tyler Davidson Fountain was moved into the area where Mabley & Carew once stood, moved 30' west and rotated 180 degrees so that it faced west.

SOME  FOUNTAIN  FACTS

• Total Height of the bronze fountain-38 feet

• Total weight of the bronze fountain-24 tons

• Height of the central figure-9 feet

• Weight of the central figure-2 tons

• Weight of the circular basin and base of the fountain-85 tons

• The bronze used was from a huge cannon purchased from the Danish Government

• Cost to Henry Probasco for the fountain-$105,000

• Cost of the esplanade and accessories to the city-$75,000

• Dimension of the original esplande-400 feet long by 60 wide

• This was the first fountain in the world to dispense ice water for drinking, which was cooled in an underground ice cellar

• There are 438 holes in each hand of the central figure for the shower of water

^{IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT SQUARE CARDS}