Autre nom(s)
Blacksmith Fountain
59 Carden Street
Liens et documents
Date(s) de construction
1885/01/01
Inscrit au répertoire canadien:
2009/09/24
Énoncé d'importance
Description du lieu patrimonial
Blacksmith Fountain is located at Priory Square, on the north side of MacDonell Street, east of Wyndham Street, in downtown Guelph. The metal statue was constructed in 1884.
The statue was designated, by the City of Guelph, in 1988, for its historical and architectural value and interest, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act under By-law (1988) – 12731.
Valeur patrimoniale
The Blacksmith Fountain is a unique and handsome public monument. Its inauguration was on Queen Victoria's birthday, in 1885. A symbol of local industry, it was presented to the city, as the inscription on the red-granite base states, by J.B. Armstrong, a prominent local businessman, former alderman and owner of the Guelph Carriage Goods Company.
The Blacksmith Fountain has occupied three important sites in Guelph over its lifetime. The fountain stood in the centre of St. George's Square until 1922 when, to facilitate the passage of streetcars through the square, it was moved to Priory Square. Its position there overlooked the site where Guelph's founder, John Galt, is said to have felled the first tree.
The statue of a blacksmith is cast in a metal alloy. Supporting the statue is an octagonal basin, held by a Rococo-style cast iron pedestal. The water spouts from the mouths of eight rams heads that decorate the basin's rim. The base is constructed of red-granite and bears the historic inscription, “Presented by J.B. Armstrong 1884”.
Source: City of Guelph, By-law (1988) – 12731.
Éléments caractéristiques
Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Blacksmith Fountain include its:
- metal alloy fabrication
- shape and size representing a blacksmith and the early town industry
- cast-iron octagonal upper water basin, ringed by rams head water spouts
- Rococo-style cast iron supporting pedestal
- red-granite base
- inscription on the granite base reading “Presented by J.B. Armstrong 1884”
Reconnaissance
Juridiction
Ontario
Autorité de reconnaissance
Administrations locales (Ont.)
Loi habilitante
Loi sur le patrimoine de l'Ontario
Type de reconnaissance
Désignation du patrimoine municipal (partie IV)
Date de reconnaissance
1988/01/18
Données sur l'histoire
Date(s) importantes
1960/01/01 à 1960/01/01
1922/01/01 à 1922/01/01
Thème - catégorie et type
- Économies en développement
- Technologie et ingénierie
- Économies en développement
- Exploitation et production
Catégorie de fonction / Type de fonction
Actuelle
- Communauté
- Mobilier urbain ou art public
Historique
Architecte / Concepteur
s/o
Constructeur
s/o
Informations supplémentaires
Emplacement de la documentation
City of Guelph
Community Design and Development Services
1 Carden Street
Guelph, ON
N1H3A1
Réfère à une collection
Identificateur féd./prov./terr.
HPON09-0003
Statut
Édité
Inscriptions associées
s/o