Wouldn’t you agree this Fountain Girl statue has a story to tell? The Fountain Girl, also known as the Little Cold Water Girl, stands here in Lincoln Park. It’s more than just a sculpture. It represents a time of change and ideals.
Let’s rewind to the late 19th century. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union or WCTU wanted to offer “pure drinking water”. It was an alternative to liquor. The WCTU’s Juvenile Division rallied 350,000 children. These children came from many countries. They pledged to abstain from alcohol. They donated pennies and nickels. This money funded a decorative fountain. It was displayed at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
They raised $3000. The WCTU commissioned English artist George Wade. He created the Fountain Girl. Wade sculpted a bronze figure. A young girl in a simple dress stands barefoot. Her arms are outstretched. She holds a chalice. It resembled the Loyal Temperance Union badge. Water trickled from the cup into a stone basin.
The Fountain Girl first appeared at the World’s Fair in Jackson Park. It refreshed people, horses, dogs, and birds. Imagine the scene. People marveled at the fair. They quenched their thirst at this very fountain.
In 1895, the WCTU moved the Fountain Girl. It went to the Woman’s Temple at La Salle and Monroe Streets. Copies of the fountain appeared elsewhere. London, Detroit, and Portland each had one. After Chicago’s Woman’s Temple was demolished, the original moved again. In 1921, it came to Lincoln Park near Lake Shore Drive.
But the Fountain Girl’s journey wasn’t over. The Lake Shore Drive reconstruction project in the 1930s put it in storage. It stayed there for years. Finally, in 1940, the Chicago Park District found a new home for it. This was just south of the W. La Salle Drive underpass.
Then disaster struck in the late 1950s. The bronze figure was stolen. The stone base remained. The girl was gone. The city mourned the loss.
Fast forward to 2007. Lincoln Park resident Jeanette Van Nice decided to act. She contacted the Chicago Park District and Lincoln Park Conservancy. She offered funds to recreate the sculpture. The State of Illinois and others joined the effort.
The Park District worked with Portland, Maine. Portland had an identical sculpture. Conservator Andrzej Dajnowski made a mold. He oversaw the recasting in bronze. In 2012, the new sculpture was installed. It stands on the original granite base. The area around the Fountain Girl was improved.
Today, water drips from the cup. But it’s no longer safe to drink.
The Fountain Girl stands as a symbol. It represents temperance. It also embodies community spirit. It shows perseverance. It has overcome theft and neglect. It stands here once again. The Fountain Girl is a reminder of Chicago’s past. It is a testament to the city’s dedication to art.