The Year of Fountains

By: Michael Pillagalli

In the past year, Chester County has experienced the opening of two historic fountains in its public areas. We have the magnificent $90 million restoration of the fountains at Longwood Gardens, which have reopened this past late spring /early summer to raves of grandeur.

You can see the shrubbery and the fountain apparatus when you attend the Preview Party of the Chester County Day Tour on October 6th at Longwood, but the main fountains will not be displayed after the Preview Lectures. The other fountain which is being celebrated this year, and in conjunction with Chester County Day, is the fountain at Marshall Square Park. The fountain there has been returned to its original position in the park after being gone about 65 years.

The lovely cast iron five tiered fountain manufactured in 1883, and installed in the park in 1889, was found, restored, installed and dedicated for a fraction of the cost of those at Longwood, but its presence is as important to Marshall Square Park as the ones at Longwood are to that expansive property. Longwood Gardens encompasses 1077 manicured and natural setting acres and the showcase is the conservatory and the exquisite outdoor gardens and fountains. Marshall Square Park entails 5 acres and celebrates being a lovely in town public garden and park serving as an oasis for a Victorian town which is encircled by grand town homes and mansions. It was dedicated as West Chester’s first public square in 1848.  

Both parks are known for their flora and both have had books written about their histories and their specimen plantings. Flora Cestrica written in 1837, by Joshua Hoopes, was a bible of native floral plants in Marshall Square Park which opened the eyes of many as to the importance of plants and was considered a major contribution to the agricultural world of Chester County. There were over 160 distinct species of plantings in the park at the time.

Mr. DuPont was the devoted husband who established Longwood as a retreat for his wife and himself and it was a West Chester group of “old timers”: David Townsend, Josiah Hoopes,

and Dr. William Darlington, who in 1848, were the ones to establish Marshall Square Park and who were quickly assigned the title of, “Park Committee” to oversee the cataloguing of species of trees and plants in Chester County and the park.

The three men named the park area for Humphrey Marshall, who was a celebrated botanist with a lovely 18th Century home in Marshallton. His property was a popular spot for gardeners and horticulturists, just as Longwood Gardens was then and still is today.

Marshall Square Park is a part of our tour this year as it has a part in the history of the birth of the Chester County Hospital. The park was established as an arboretum eight years before Central Park was established in New York City. In 1889, the city of Philadelphia sold the five tier fountain to the borough of West Chester for inclusion in its lovely park.

The restoration of the fountain to the park and its original site was a community effort with all of the funds to achieve the successful installation being gleaned from the community and the Friends of Marshall Square Park. The Friends of Marshall Square Park (FMSP) have raised nearly

$100,000 for the fountain project for phase 1 and are on the road to phase 2 and 3, where further funds will be needed to successfully complete those stages.

After restoring the Swiss Cottage in the park, the FMSP got the ball rolling on raising funds for the restoration and installation of the fountain. The top three tiers were missing after being removed in the 1950’s, due to the cost for maintaining the fountain. After several moves, the basin and the bottom tier were all that remained of the original fountain and it was still in its original placement underground in the park.

That location was in the opposite corner from the Soldier’s Monument honoring the 97th Regiment of the Civil War. The owners of homes around the park area worked together to recover the missing three tiers and found the structure behind a barn just a few miles from the park. It had been in use as a fountain in the center of a circular driveway of a local prized home and then was removed by newer owners and stored behind their barn.Restoration of the original cast iron pieces to the two tiers still at the park was undertaken with sensitivity and accuracy as well as the importance of the iron fencing circling the fountain and the bricks that encircled the base.

Today, the beautifully illuminated fountain towers to 14 feet and the first or basin tier spans 25 feet. The basin was excavated from its original site, releveled utilizing a reinforced masonry, new tiling, and a luxurious concrete finish. To have a working and illuminated fountain, the committee had to consider gathering the missing tiers, installing new mechanical and electrical systems, and plumbing consultants had to be consulted, and an out building had to be considered to house the various mechanicals.

Using old photos and ephemera, the iron fencing surrounding the fountain was replaced and or reproduced and installed but with added height to meet today’s codes and safety standards. Some original acorn finials for the fence were available so they were reproduced and the reproductions made to match the originals were placed onto the fencing. Brick paving

around the fountain was studied to make sure it was laid as it was originally set around the fountain and placed alongside the originals now stand copies that are almost impossible to distinguish from the originals based from the late 19th century.

Still to come in future phases is landscaping around the fountain and further projects to sustain the fountains maintenance and care. Instrumental in the restoration process was Mrs. Jack Loew, the primary sponsor for the group who had the honor to dedicate the fountain in memory of her husband, Mr. Jack Loew. Her newly refurbished home serves as our VIP House this year.

On this Chester County Day, you will be able to traverse the historic town park as you visit from house to house around the park area. If this is your lunch destination for tailgating or picnicking in the Swiss Cottage, be intrigued with the history of the fountain and realize the efforts made so far by the FMSP to procure the original parts and then see to their successful installation so that it can be enjoyed again by all who frequent this splendid park in the borough.