By John Miller On Jan 26, 2020
Originally posted in the Merced County Times. Linked here.
Residents and local organizations joined together with city leaders recently to discuss the future of Laura Fountain in Applegate Park.
As a longstanding symbol of Merced’s history, the fountain was built in the town’s formative years by city founder Charles Henry Huffman. Erected next to the El Capitan railroad depot, the fountain was built in 1888 to honor his third wife, Laura Kirkland Huffman. The marble fountain and granite base quickly gained Merced the nickname of “Fountain City” as passengers on the railroad were greeted with the fountain as they traveled into town.
Decades later, Laura Fountain would be moved to Applegate Park in 1935, where it currently sits inside of the park’s rose garden. In recent years, the once prestigious hallmark of the city has fallen into a state of disrepair due to vandalism, with the fountain currently sitting empty due to the difficulty in its continued operation.
As local residents, city leaders, and members of the Huffman family came together last Thursday evening in the Merced Civic Center’s Sam Pipes room, the fountain’s path to return to its historical grandeur began to appear.
City Manager Steve Carrigan noted that while he felt all in attendance “were in agreement that something needs to be done” to help restore Laura Fountain, the night’s meeting was aimed to bring ideas and preferences for the fountain’s final look, goals for the project, resources available for the project, and possible funding avenues for the restoration.
“This meeting tonight is really about how we are going to get it done,” Carrigan said.
Residents voiced a desire to see Laura Fountain restored back to its original historical appearance, with necessary upgrades to its foundation so that it remains on stable ground for years to come.
There were also suggestions for LED lighting to both highlight the fountain and help deter any vandalism of the fountain in the future. Residents noted that the original fountain featured structures around it to provide lighting and seating. Residents also set their sights on how to raise the needed funds for the project, and questioned the likelihood of obtaining matching government funds. They also mulled how to defray the costs associated with the project in order to stretch every dollar. Several residents noted that they felt it would be advantageous to set up a permanent way for people to simply donate to the project at their convenience, with Carrigan suggesting that a website for the project would be particularly useful in this regard. The city’s upcoming 150 year anniversary was also highlighted as a possible point of coordination with the project, allowing for a historically based tie-in for fundraising efforts, as well as a timely unveiling of the project.
While discussing the city’s ability and commitment to financially contribute to the project, residents questions were answered succinctly by Merced City Councilman Matthew Serratto, who sought to assure residents of the city’s intention to restore the fountain. Pointing to the vigor in the room from both private residents and local organizations such as the Merced Garden Club and the Downtown Neighborhood Association, Serratto assured the room that, “The city is committed to this, and so if the community comes and says ‘We’ve held fundraisers and we have raised X-amount of dollars,’ it’s going to be impossible for us to say no, and not going on to match that.”
Councilman Kevin Blake said the goal for the project is currently in the $200,000 range; however, this number is based on cost estimates and a previous city request for proposals for the project that solicited a single response.
Carrigan pointed out that as the project matures and the exact numbers come into sharper focus, he and other city staff members will be able to turn to local businesses who would like to help with the project to defray costs. Residents suggested that this could be further enticed by placing those businesses’ names on a plaque denoting their service.
Residents wrapped up the discussion by considering ways to maintain the Laura Fountain and keep it in good repair for decades to come. One consideration raised by those in attendance aimed to both bring people into the parks and help ensure funding for the fountain’s maintenance was bringing food trucks into the interior roadways at Applegate Park. In the area near Laura Fountain and the Merced Open Air Theater, food trucks and other vendors operating in the area could have a small associated fee attached to their ability to operate in the area both during and outside of regularly scheduled events, which could be set aside to allow for the maintenance of the structures.
The group in attendance pointed to the additional benefits of this plan as bringing families, residents, businesses, and recreation into the parks, which could work to create a stronger sense of community.
Throughout the conversation, Matt C.C. Bristol III — the great-grandson to founding Mercedian Charles Henry Huffman — noted a variety of resources and skill sets that he and his family were eager to contribute to the project. From simply donating money to help seed the cause, to drafting the restoration design plans once realized by community members, Bristol noted in an interview with The Times that he was moved to see the community commitment to restore Laura Fountain.
“Much of the Huffman history has been erased by time, with Huffman Avenue now M Street, and of course the Huffman Mansion destroyed by fire,” Bristol said “I am so pleased that there appears to be a community consensus about restoring the Laura Fountain. And what a blessing to have been able to attend the public interest meeting.”
Bristol went on to note his offer to create a California non-stock, not-for-profit corporation, as well as qualifying as a 501(c)3 entity that could receive tax deductible gifts. “My vision is that this corporation’s board of directors would include representatives from interested civic entities,” said Bristol.
During the course of the meeting, it was also noted that this board could serve as a formal entity to ensure the fountain’s good repair for generations to come. Said Bristol: “Of course, I am an outsider, so local people must decide how they want to proceed. I am available to help. The key is to have a plan, with step by step actions designed to secure completion and dedication of the fountain by the city’s sesquicentennial in 2022, if not sooner.”
As the meeting came to a close, city leaders noted a tentative scheduling of the next meeting within the month, saying that the final date will be announced as city staff outlines a possible path forward according to input gathered. At the next meeting with community stakeholders, the initial draft of the plan would be presented to those in attendance, with adjustments made to its details as needed before having it finalized. Ultimately the criteria of the project and relevant details for the Laura Fountain restoration project would be brought before the Merced City Council for a final decision on the fountain’s fate. City leaders hope that will happen sometime in March.
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