Before
there were public water systems to pipe water to individual homes, most
villages had a centrally located well with a hand pump so that the local
residents could get the water they needed.
There were at least three in Kezar Falls Village. One in particular was located at the
intersection of Bridge Street, River Street, the Old Portland Road (which would later become Route 25 after WWII) and Summer Street on the
Porter end of the covered bridge just south of the Methodist Church. This picture shows that pump with a
water barrel to water horses.
In
1915, the Temperance Movement for prohibition of liquors was in full swing and
the local Woman’s Christian Temperance Union decided to replace the old pump
with a new drinking fountain with the idea that with a water fountain readily
available there would be no need for strong liquor to quench one’s thirst. On July 3, 1915 the new fountain was
dedicated and celebrated with much fanfare, speeches, a brass band and music at
the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kezar Falls Village.
The headline in the
July 8th Ossipee Valley Weekly newspaper read “DEDICATION OF DRINKING FOUNTAIN - Appropriate Exercises Held in Honor
of Temperance Symbol” and the event was described in detail. The festivities were concluded as the members
of the Ladies Temperance Legion, led by the brass band, marched to the fountain
where it was unveiled. They sang “Onward
We Are Marching” and the water and light globe at the top was turned on. Then there was a rush, for each one wanted to
drink from the “bubblers”.
(Above
is a close up view of the new fountain and was taken looking north with
Bridge Street to the right and the Malvern Hotel and Ridlon
Brothers Store in the background. The
hotel is gone now and the store is now the Village Laundry. The Methodist
Church would have been across from the hotel just out of the picture on the
left.)
Miss Mildred Stanley was
age 10 at the time and read a poem. The
first and last verses were as follows:
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Mrs. Blanch Stanley getting water from the fountain.
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“The decision day has come
When we don’t want any rum,
And it will surely go
If everyone votes NO."
"Prohibition we will gain
When all states vote no with Maine;
Rum Business will be smote
When the ladies get the vote.”
A poem by Lewellen Wadsworth was also read. A few key
lines were:
“Today, by faith, the coming years we scan
And dedicate this gift to rescue fallen man……"
"If erring brothers listen here today,
Fondly we hope, most fervently we pray,
That guided oft by gentle hands Divine
You quench your thirst before this hallowed Shrine….."
The following year this
letter was sent to the Porter’ Select Men.
The members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union at a meeting held today, voted that the Union present and give to the town of Porter, the drinking fountain erected and owned by the Union in Kezar Falls Village in Porter near the covered bridge, the said Town to keep said fountain in repair and usable for the public, and that the President and Secretary delivered to the Selectmen of Porter a copy of this voted, signed by them as the transfer and delivery of said fountain to the Town of Porter, and receive from said Selectmen for the Union, their acceptance of the fountain for their town.
Porter, Oct. 18, 1916
True copy attest:
Mary M. Stanley, President
Mrs. Sherman Stanley Secretary
Mary M. Stanley, President
Mrs. Sherman Stanley Secretary
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| Temperance Pledge Card |
The
18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture,
transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors, became law in 1920 and
continued until 1933. Although the
Kezar Fall’s fountain was a symbol in favor of prohibition, it is doubtful it
did much to change the habits of those who drank. The dedication ceremony seems a bit amusing
and naive in today’s world. However, it
was very serious to those who believed in the movement at that time.
The fountain remained until the new
cement bridge was built in 1926. No one
seems to know what happened to the fountain after removal. Was it tossed in the river, buried somewhere
nearby or perhaps sold for scrap?
