Join us in celebrating the
250th Anniversary of the United States
with Frances Willard as she pedals her beloved bicycle,
Gladys, with her loyal dog, Saint Courageous,
across America in search of WCTU water fountains.

INTRODUCTION

The first National WCTU Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18-20, 1874. The First Plan of Work was adopted.

"14. We urge our unions everywhere to signalize the coming hundredth birthday of America by erecting in every village and town and city, fountains of water, inscribed with such mottoes as shall show what sort of drink the women of America believe in, and as shall be a sermon in their persuasiveness to our fathers, brothers and sons."

“Come, dear friends, join me and my faithful companions — my bicycle Gladys and my brave little dog Saint Courageous — as we set off from Rest Cottage in Evanston, Illinois. Together we will visit the water fountains that our WCTU sisters placed across America to refresh thirsty travelers, man and beast alike.

The fountains were erected for the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. (1876), and now we honor them during the 250th Anniversary (2026)."

NOTE: Please keep in mind that as towns have grown and changed, some of the fountains may have been relocated. The details provided here reflect the most current information available.

Illinois

Evanston - Chicago

Frances adjusts her hat, settles onto her faithful bicycle Gladys, and gives a whistle for Saint Courageous, who bounds happily alongside.

“This is where our journey begins, dear friends — my own home, Rest Cottage. From here, I dreamed and worked, prayed and planned, to help women everywhere make the world a kinder, healthier, more Christ-like place. Today, we set out together, visiting the fountains that remind us of both refreshment and renewal.”

Chicago has changed—oh, how it has changed. The WCTU Temple, once her proud headquarters, was nowhere to be found. In its place, glass and concrete monuments of modern commerce dominated the corner of LaSalle and Monroe. Frances slowed, her heart tugging with memory, but she pressed on.

Her search took her east, into the green expanse of Lincoln Park, where the city’s heartbeat softened under the trees. And there, at last, she found her. The Little Cold Water Girl still stood, bowl in hand, her bronze face calm and kind, water spilling in gentle streams just as it had more than a century ago.

Frances leaned Gladys by the path and stood quietly before the fountain. Saint Courageous bounded forward, lapping gratefully from the dog’s basin below, while children played nearby and joggers paused for a cool sip. The girl’s simple offering of water still carried its message: refreshment, purity, and care for all—man, beast, and friend alike.

With a smile, Frances whispered, “Well done, little one. You’re still keeping watch.”

Entrance of Willard Hall Lincoln Park

Fountain Facts

Created for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, funded by children of the WCTU’s Loyal Temperance Legion, who contributed $3,000 in dimes and small gifts.
Sculpted by George Wade, a London artist.
Featured a young girl (the “Cold Water Girl”) holding a bowl with water flowing into a trough for horses, a spout for humans, and a basin for dogs.
Dedicated to honor Frances Willard.
After the Exposition, it was moved to stand in front of the WCTU Temple at LaSalle and Monroe Streets in Chicago.
Symbolized “organized mother-love” and childhood’s gift to the city, blessing both man and beast.

Decatur

From Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Frances mounted Gladys once more, Saint Courageous trotting faithfully at her side. The road ahead stretched long and steady, carrying them southwest through the Illinois heartland. Town by town, mile by mile, they pressed forward until the spires and rooftops of Decatur finally rose into view.

Frances remembered well the fountain that had once stood proudly at the Wabash Railroad Depot, a gift of the WCTU in 1905. But the depot was gone now, lost to time. She pedaled on, her curiosity drawing her to a quiet neighborhood where the fountain had found its unlikely resting place.

At last, they reached 3691 Hardy Street. There, in the yard of a modest home, stood the massive red granite structure—silent now, its jets dry, its basins empty. Saint Courageous circled it eagerly, nose brushing the old dog’s basin at the base, as if hoping for a drop of cool water. Frances leaned Gladys against the gate and walked slowly forward.

Fountain Facts

Erected: for the 1876 Centennial celebration.
Location: once stood on the public square,
Update: preserved at a private residence.

Dixon

Heading north and west, Frances finds herself in Dixon, where another fountain testifies to the work of her white-ribbon sisters. Gladys’ wheels crunch on gravel as Saint Courageous trots ahead to sniff at the base of the old stone structure.

“Each fountain was more than stone and water — it was a testimony. These women believed, as I do, that to offer a drink of pure water was to offer life, dignity, and an alternative to alcohol. Think of them, planting such gifts in their communities with faith that God would bless the effort.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: June of 1912
Located: in front of City Hall
Update: Later in 1972, the city attempted to sell the fountain but was unsuccessful; as a result, the fountain still stands in the same spot today.

Sullivan

The prairie winds catch Frances’s skirts as she pedals westward toward Sullivan. Fields of corn stretch out on either side, and Saint Courageous bounds happily, pausing now and then to chase a grasshopper. Arriving in town, they find the WCTU fountain — weathered with age, yet still standing proudly.

Frances leans on Gladys’s handlebars and smiles:

“Here in Sullivan, too, the women of the WCTU placed their testimony in stone and water. They wished to remind every passerby — the farmer driving his wagon, the children walking home from school, even the weary horse — that temperance is a gift of health. Pure water to quench thirst, instead of the poison sold behind swinging doors.”

“Still standing,” Frances whispered, “still speaking.”

Saint Courageous lapped at the empty dog’s basin, then looked up at her expectantly. She laughed gently and gave him a reassuring pat. Together, they lingered for a moment longer, before preparing to ride on.

Saint Courageous sniffs the base of the fountain, tail wagging, as if to approve.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1905
Located: Moultrie County Courthouse Lawn
Update: In 1983, the fountain was refurbished and rededicated, and the WCTU symbols in the center construction were replaced with two cupids beneath an umbrella. This new symbol was different from the typical WCTU bow image.

Indiana
Bloomington

The morning sun shines brightly as Frances, Gladys, and Saint Courageous cross the Indiana state line. Bloomington welcomes them with a lively blend of college-town energy and small-town charm. Students pass by on bikes, backpacks over their shoulders, while children race ahead of their parents toward an ice cream shop.

Near the town center, the historic WCTU fountain still stands. Saint Courageous trots up to its base, nose twitching with curiosity. Frances steadies Gladys and gazes around with wonder.

“Dear friends, what a joy to see this fountain still standing. When the women of Bloomington first placed it here, they hoped to offer refreshment without temptation — water instead of whiskey, health instead of harm. Today, it’s a monument, yes, but also a promise kept: that small acts of care last far longer than we imagine.”

A student pauses to refill a reusable bottle at a nearby spigot. Frances smiles knowingly.

“Thirsty and ye gave me drink... the form may change, but the truth stays the same — pure water is still the better choice.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1913
Located: Monroe County Courthouse lawn.
Inscription: Thirsty and ye gave me drink.
Update: Today, it stands as both a historic landmark and a symbol of Bloomington’s history of reform and public health.

Brazil

Leaving Bloomington behind, Frances and Saint Courageous follow the road through Indiana’s rolling farmland. The sun glints off Gladys’s spokes as they enter the Clay County seat of Brazil, where another WCTU fountain still graces the town.

Frances slows her pace as the fountain comes into view. Saint Courageous trots ahead, tail wagging, as if to say, “Here it is!”

“How remarkable,” Frances says softly, “that even today, this fountain stands almost exactly as it did when dedicated over a century ago. In my day, its waters offered travelers refreshment without the shadow of the saloon. Today, it serves as history’s quiet sermon — a reminder that small acts of kindness endure.”

A young family stops nearby, children pointing curiously at the stone fountain while their mother explains its story. Frances smiles at the sight.

“Even when times change, truth remains. Pure water still speaks louder than wine.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1906, inspired by the Centennial call for public drinking fountains.
Located: Brazil
Update: It is preserved as one of the town’s historic landmarks, linking Brazil to the wider WCTU movement.

Michigan
Lansing

The journey heads north as Frances crosses into Michigan’s capital city. Gladys hums along the pavement while Saint Courageous bounds beside her, ears flapping in the breeze.

In a small public square, the WCTU fountain still stands, its sturdy carved stone basin remaining intact despite the passage of time. Office workers hurry past with coffee cups, and a group of schoolchildren gather nearby on a field trip.

Frances sets one foot on the ground and gestures toward the fountain.

“Here in Lansing, women once dreamed of a healthier, safer community. In 1874, they formed the Lansing WCTU. In 1902, the members raised $350 to purchase a block of Vermont granite, which was carved into a shape resembling a drinking vessel.

Their fountain stood as a gentle protest against strong drink. And still today, it stands as a reminder: prevention and kindness are timeless.”

Frances read the inscription: "Frances E. Willard Memorial Erected by the Central W.C.T.U.

I was thirsty and ye gave me to drink."

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1902

Location: Moved in 1976 to Turner Park

Update: Became part of the Heritage Garden and rededicated on September 21, 2001

Frances pedals Gladys eastward into Lapeer, a smaller city with a proud WCTU past. Saint Courageous trots forward, sniffing at its base as if to honor the women who once gathered here.

“How often, dear friends, the biggest lessons are found in the smallest places. Lapeer’s WCTU women gave this fountain to their neighbors, not for fame but for service. Today, it still tells their story.”

Families walk past, some pausing to read the marker explaining the fountain’s origin. Frances smiles warmly.

“The work of love and care never truly ends — it simply flows on, like water.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1902

Location:

Update: Preserved today as a symbol of Lapeer’s civic and reform spirit.

The road into Detroit is busier than anything Frances envisioned that day — skyscrapers soaring, cars rushing by, people bustling everywhere. Yet amid the modern city, she finds a remnant of her movement’s legacy: a WCTU fountain preserved as a piece of civic history.

She slows Gladys and looks around thoughtfully.

“How marvelous, dear friends, that even in a great industrial city like Detroit, the testimony of pure water remains. In 1874, our women hoped to place fountains in every village and town; here, that vision touched the lives of thousands.

On June 11, 1910, this fountain was erected. Their work still speaks in this city of industry and innovation.”

Saint Courageous barks happily, as if greeting the crowd.

Fountain Facts

Erected: June 11, 1910

Rededicated: October 5, 1963.

Location: Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in Belle Isle.

Lapeer

Detroit

Pennsylvania

Frances leaned forward on Gladys, smiling as the late afternoon sun caught the ridges of the Alleghenies. “Onward,” she whispered. “The fountains of Pennsylvania are waiting.”

Bellefonte

The Pennsylvania hills roll gently as Frances pedals into Bellefonte, a historic town with stone buildings and tree-lined streets. The WCTU fountain here still stands proudly in a small square, its carved trough catching the light.

Frances sits Gladys down and walks toward the fountain.

“In Bellefonte, the White Ribbon women gave not only water but a symbol of protection for home and family. In 1876, it was new — today, it is old, yet its testimony has not grown weak.”

Saint Courageous trots to the base and curls up in the shade, content.

A special song entitled; "At the Fountain" was written by Linda P Hoffman, and sung that day by Jan Mianulli. Here are the words of the chorus.

There's a fountain, yes, a beautiful fountain where the water's clear

and the friends draw near

and the sun shines so bright.

Meet me at the fountain, the beautiful fountain,

there's a place to rest

come and be our guest, without money or price.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1884
Location: Centre County Courthouse
Replacement: In 2006, two new fountains and a bench were dedicated in a courthouse ceremony

Reading

Frances and Gladys followed the winding roads toward Reading, a city alive with the hum of mills and factories. Saint Courageous lifted his head as the air thickened with the scent of coal smoke and industry. This was a place where laborers toiled long hours, and the saloon doors never seemed to close.

At the Northeast corner of 5th and Inn Street, Frances found the WCTU fountain—strong, simple, and purposeful. She imagined weary millworkers stopping here, cupping cool water in their hands instead of grasping at a bottle of drink. Each stream of water was a quiet victory, each thirsty passerby a chance to turn from vice to virtue.

The fountain was no longer in working condition; however, the symbol of the WCTU, a white ribbon bow could easily be seen. An inscription read, WCTU: "For God and Home and Every Land," "Erected by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union Reading, PA for the use of the public."

She lingered a moment, reflecting on the determination of Reading’s WCTU women, whose efforts in 1904 had brought not only refreshment but also a symbol of steadfast hope in a city weighed by industry’s demands. With renewed strength, Frances mounted Gladys once more, the road to Bethlehem calling her name.

Fountain Facts

Location: Reading, Pennsylvania – Courthouse grounds
Erected: Early 1900s by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
Purpose: Offered clean drinking water for millworkers, townspeople, and horses
Unique Feature: Stood in an industrious city where saloons thrived, offering a visible alternative of temperance and refreshment
Legacy: A daily reminder of the WCTU’s mission in one of Pennsylvania’s busiest industrial hubs

Bethlehem

The road from Reading carried Frances and Gladys through rolling hills and small towns until the spires of Bethlehem rose in the distance. Known for its Moravian heritage, Bethlehem had always been a place of faith and community. Frances could almost hear the echoes of hymns as she pedaled into the heart of town.

There she found another WCTU fountain—gifted by local women who believed that temperance should flow as freely as water. The fountain’s cool stream offered refreshment not only to townsfolk but to weary travelers and even the horses that pulled their wagons through the cobbled streets.

Frances rested a hand on the fountain’s iron bowl, imagining the women of Bethlehem gathering their nickels and dimes, hosting socials and rallies, all to bring this symbol of purity to their community. It stood as a testament to their persistence—a reminder that even in a city of faith and song, the call for temperance was just as vital.

With Saint Courageous stamping softly beside her, Frances lifted her eyes toward the northern roads. Coudersport lay ahead, deep in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Fountain Facts

Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – Town Square

Donated by: Bethlehem Woman’s Christian Temperance Union

Erected: September 14, 1918

Coudersport

The road narrowed as Frances and Gladys pushed on, trading the hum of industry for the whisper of pines. By the time they reached Coudersport, the town felt worlds away from the bustle of Reading and Bethlehem. Nestled in the Pennsylvania Wilds, Coudersport was quieter, its streets lined with modest shops and a sturdy courthouse at the center.

It was here, too, that the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union had left its mark. Though far from the state’s larger cities, the local women believed their cause mattered just as much in a small county seat as in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. They had rallied neighbors, raised funds, and installed a fountain on courthouse grounds so that miners, farmers, and even passing lumbermen could drink clean water instead of seeking stronger spirits.

Frances paused at the fountain, its iron edges softened by years of weather. She admired how the reformers’ determination had carried even to this remote town. The message was clear: no matter how far you traveled, the WCTU’s call for purity and health reached every corner of the map.

Fountain Facts: Coudersport

Location: Coudersport
Donated by: Local WCTU chapter
Erected: Late 1904
Dedicated: To John S. Mann and Mary W. Mann, and Cora M. Thompson

With a last drink of cool water, she swung back into her saddle. The road ahead bent eastward, toward Pen Argyl, another small town with a big WCTU story.

Pen Argyl

The last leg of Frances’s Pennsylvania journey took her east, where the Allegheny ridges gave way to the rolling hills of the Lehigh Valley. Pen Argyl, a slate-mining town, rose up with its church steeples and tidy rows of homes built by hardworking families. Gladys’s wheels rang over the stone-paved streets, while Saint Courageous trotted steadily behind.

Frances discovered the WCTU fountain in Weona Park—a gift from local women who believed their small community deserved the same blessings of refreshment and reform as any great city. The fountain’s modest design spoke of practicality, but its message was no less bold: water for man, beast, and traveler, freely given in the spirit of temperance.

Frances read the inscriptions, "WCTU Nature's best beverage for man and beast." On either side, "Pure Water."

She lingered a little longer, imagining miners stopping here after long days, children cooling their hands in the basin, and the quiet pride of the Union women who had made it possible. She smiled, touched the worn rim of the fountain, and whispered, “Even in the smallest places, your voices sang loudly.”

Fountain Facts

Location: Weona Park
Erected: 1911
Purpose: Offered free drinking water for townspeople, children, travelers, and horses in this slate-mining community
Significance: Demonstrated the WCTU’s reach into small industrial towns, bringing the same ideals of purity and health found in larger cities

Turning back to Gladys, she lifted her eyes toward the horizon. Pennsylvania’s fountains had told their story, and the road now beckoned her eastward toward new states and new symbols of the Union’s legacy.

Rhode Island

Cranston

Leaving Manhattan behind, Frances pedals northeast into Rhode Island, the smallest state with a big reforming spirit.

Frances was looking for a big stone fountain but was unable to find one. She saw a group of young students passing by. "I heard Cranston had two WCTU fountains. Do you know where I can find them?" Frances asked. One of the students said, "Follow us. We are headed there now." Frances was confused as they headed into the Cranston Park Library.

Seeing the fountain, Frances burst out laughing. "I was expecting something very different," she said. Then Frances bent down to read the inscription, "This fountain is presented to the city of Canston in appreciation of the work of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. In honor of Edna Maine Spooner and others who have worked for the principles of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union."

“Even in your smallest state, dear friends, the White Ribbon women left their mark, not the way it had been done, but it still gives fresh water."

Fountain Facts

Built by the Cranston WCTU in the late 19th century.
Located in the Auburn Branch Library, 396 Potian Ave.

Next the students took Frances to the Cranston Public Library at 140 Sockanosset Crross Road.

Kingston

Heading south, Frances and her companions arrive in Kingston, home to the University of Rhode Island. Students cross the campus nearby, carrying laptops and water bottles. This fountain was requested by the church.

It was donated by Fred and Lucile Votta in memory of her mother, Edna Maine Spooner. Mrs. Spooner was president and LTL Director for many years.

Frances was shown a photo that Mrs. Spooner's great-grandson, Ryan Labriole, took of his son, Jacob Michael Hindson, the great-great-grandson and a White Ribbon Recruit. Mrs. Votta, a fourth-generation WCTU member, served as the Rhode Island State President.

Frances got back on Gladys with a twinkle in her eye.

"These fountains don't look like traditional WCTU fountains; however, the purpose is the same: refreshment, prevention, and care.”

Block Island

The last Rhode Island stop is the most adventurous. Frances rolls Gladys onto the ferry, Saint Courageous trotting behind, ears perked at the sea breeze. Waves crash, gulls cry, and the island comes into view.

On Block Island, the fountain stands near the harbor, its stone weathered by salt and wind but still intact. Frances gazes across the water, one hand resting on Gladys.

“Imagine it — even here, across the sea, our sisters built a fountain. In 1896, it welcomed sailors and vacationers with a cup of pure water. On June 7, 2002, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion of the Rebecca restoration. And in 2026, it stands as a reminder that the spirit of love and service reaches every shore.

Saint Courageous barks joyfully at the gulls, drawing laughter from children nearby.

Fountain Facts

Erected: by the Block Island WCTU as part of Centennial fountain projects.
Location: near the harbor
Update: Weathered but still a cherished historic feature of the island.

Massachusetts

Lee

Frances pedaled into Lee, a town known for its marble quarries. At the intersection of Main and Park Street, on the Town Park Village Green, the WCTU fountain stood solid and unyielding, its granite bowl once a gift of marble workers’ wives who had joined the Union in seeking purity.

Frances thought of its history. Amelia Jeannette Kilbon, the local leader of the Loyal Temperance Legion (LTL) began the campaign to raise funds for a public drinking fountain. After her death, others completed raising the money and the fountain became a memorial to Kilbno and her work with the LTL.

Daniel Chester French designed the fountain, like many WCTU fountains, one side was for horses and the other side for people. Frances moved closer to examine the two images from which water flowed: a fish and an image of Chief Konkapot of the Stockbridge Mohegan tribe and the other an image of a fish.

France thought of the hard work of local citizens who not only fought drunkenness and the violence and crime that often accompany it but to those who also united to give their town something as practical and necessary as drinking water.

Next, Frances read the inscription: "This fountain was begun by the Loyal Temperance Legion under the leadership of Amelia Jeanette Kilbon and was completed by her friend as a tribute to her memory 1870-1897."

Saint Courageous lapped at the water as Frances reflected: “Stone and spirit alike endure.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1899
Location: Town Park Village Greene, Intersection of Main and Park Street
Update: Survives as a historic feature

Amherst Common

The elm-lined college town of Amherst welcomed Frances with the hum of students and the quiet dignity of its common. There, a fountain that was a little different because it includes and inscription for the WCTU and the Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union (YWCTU) and "Blessed are the merciful." It was erected in 1904, bearing the words of Revelation: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Frances rested in its shade, smiling at the irony that here in a center of learning, the simple truth of water had preached a sermon longer than any lecture.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1907
Location: Amherst Common
Inscription: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17) and Blessed are the merciful.
Update: Preserved on the Common, a notable historic artifact

Hadley

Crossing the river, Frances entered Hadley, with its long common and fertile meadows. The WCTU fountain here had been installed for farmers, their horses, and children returning from the fields. Still sturdy, its worn basins bore witness to decades of use. Frances filled her own tin cup and thought: “Every village, however small, carried our banner forward.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: Early 20th century
Location: West Street Commons of Hadley, Russell Street
Update: Survives in weathered but recognizable condition

Orange

Further north in Orange, an industrial town along the Millers River, Frances found the fountain at Main Street intersection of North and West. Once, it had welcomed workers leaving factories and farmers bringing produce to market. Its inscription urged temperance in the midst of toil. Frances set her hand on the cool stone and whispered, “Even in the hardest labors, refreshment can be found.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1904
Location: Main Street at the intersection of North and West Street
Update: Remains part of Orange’s historic landscape

Leominster

Cycling into Leominster, the birthplace of the American plastics industry, Frances sought Carter Park. There she found the WCTU fountain still standing, a quiet ornament in the park’s greenery. Once, townsfolk had gathered here for dedication ceremonies, pledging themselves to sobriety. Now, joggers and children played nearby, scarcely aware of its origins — but the fountain’s water still flowed as purely as its first day.

Frances took a moment to read the inscription: "Woman's Christian Temperance Union." The plaque read: "Willard Memorial presented to the town of Leominster by Women's Christian Temperance Union 1903"

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1903
Location: Carter Park, at the corner of Main Street and Summer Street
Updat: Still standing in Carter Park as a preserved landmark

Ayer

From Leominster, Frances wheeled her way into Ayer, a small but lively railroad town that once bustled with soldiers at nearby

Fort Devens. She discovered the WCTU fountain, erected on June 17, 1899, its granite form weathered yet dignified. The townspeople had cherished it for more than a century, a symbol of purity in an era when the whistle of locomotives and the shuffle of marching boots filled the air. Frances paused here, imagining the countless travelers and townsfolk refreshed by its flowing streams.

Fountain Facts

Original Fountain Erected: June 17, 1899, by the Ayer branch of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
Location: Ayer
Inscription: WCTU

Brockton

The next Massachusetts stop brought Frances into Brockton, a shoe-manufacturing city once called “The City of Champions.” On its busy streets she discovered the WCTU fountain, a solid granite structure offered to workers, horses, and children alike. Its dedication had once drawn crowds of reformers, their message carried not in speeches but in the steady flow of water.

Frances paused to read the inscription: Woman's Christian Temperance Union/To the city of Brockton/1894. Saint Courageous took a a long drink before Frances pointed Gladys to North Attleboro.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1894
Location: Perkins Park
Inscription: Woman's Christian Temperance Union/To the city of Brockton/1894

North Attleboro

Further southeast, Frances arrived in North Attleboro, Municipal Park on the corner of Bank and South Washington Street. This fountain was erected in 1911 dedicated to the WCTU, YWCTU, and Loyal Temperance Legion (LTL). A familiar sight to generations, it reminded her that the WCTU’s vision had truly touched even the smallest of New England towns.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1911
Location: Municipal Park on the corner of Bank and South Washington Street.

Maine

Portland

Crossing into Maine, Frances felt the salt air turn sharper, the Atlantic stretching wide to her right as she steered her bicycle toward the great port city of Portland. Bustling with ships and commerce, Portland had long been a center of reform and activism, and it was here that Maine’s own temperance laws had first taken root under Neal Dow, the “Father of Prohibition.”

On the busy city streets she found the fountain given by the WCTU of Portland, its basin once serving horses, dogs, and thirsty workers alike. The fountain stood not just as a structure of stone and iron, but as a declaration: that clean, fresh water should always be the people’s alternative to drink. Frances paused here, imagining the Union women who had raised the funds, organized the dedication, and spoken words of faith and reform as the water first flowed.

The fountain reminded her that Portland’s spirit of temperance had not been a small effort — it had been the seedbed of a national cause. Resting by its side, she thought how fitting it was to begin her journey through Maine here, in the city that had once lit the way for the nation.

On the Courtyard of the Portland Public Library, she found the fountain originally called The Little Water Girl, is now known as the Stevens Memorial Fountain.

When Maine WCTU decided to create a fountain, they chose the water girl fountain, a duplicate of the Willard fountain in Chicago The girl is made in bronze with Main granite for the base. There is a drinking trough for horses and a special bassinet the bottom for dogs and birds. The fountain was formally presented to the city of Portland on August 14, 1917.

Originally the fountain was placed at one of the busiest corners of the city--Congress Square. In 1928, the fountain was moved to Deering Oaks Park where it was constantly vandalized.

Frances was disappointed that it no longer worked but it seems safe in front of the public library.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1917
Original Location: Congress Square, Portland
Relocations:
• Moved to Deering Oaks Park 12 years later (c. 1929)
• Finally relocated to Portland Public Library grounds in 1979
Update: In 2010, the fountain was re-plumbed, cleaned, and its granite base restored so it became operational

New Jersey

Frances pedaled south from Maine, finally reaching New Jersey. Gladys’s tires hummed while Saint Courageous padded faithfully alongside, ears perked at the change in scenery.

Here, in towns both large and small, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union had left its mark. New Jersey’s fountains, like those she had visited in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetss, and Maine bore the same mission: to give water freely, to encourage temperance, and to place a visible symbol of reform in the very heart of community life.

Frances paused on the far side of the bridge, gazing toward the tree-lined streets that awaited. Each stop here would tell a new story—women gathering in parlor meetings, fundraising with bake sales and rallies, determined that their towns should stand as examples of purity and care.

“Onward, Gladys,” she said softly, patting the bicycle frame. “New Jersey’s voices are waiting to be heard.” Saint Courageous barked once, tail wagging, as they set off into the Garden State.

Newton

Frances’s first New Jersey stop brought her into Newton, a town nestled in Sussex County’s rolling hills. Gladys slowed as she reached Memory Park, where shade trees framed a monument of quiet dignity.

The fountain here had not always stood in this spot. Once, it had graced the corner of Main Street and Liberty Street, a centerpiece for townspeople and travelers alike. However, when time and traffic pressed on, the community preserved it by moving it here to the park, where its story could continue.

Frances leaned closer to read the inscription carved deep into the stone:

“The Catherine Ryterson McMurtry Memorial Fountain — Built by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Newton in loving memory of their first president, Mrs. William McMurtry.”

She paused, touched by the devotion of a chapter that had honored its leader not just with words, but with a gift of living water for generations. Saint Courageous bent low to drink from the basin, while Frances whispered softly, “Your memory still flows here.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: Early 20th century
Location: Originally at Main Street & Liberty Street; now in Memory Park, Newton, Sussex County
Inscription: “The Catherine Ryterson McMurtry Memorial Fountain — Built by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Newton in loving memory of their first president, Mrs. William McMurtry.”
Update: Relocated to Memory Park

Glassboro

Frances pedaled into Glassboro, once a bustling glass-making town, and sought the fountain that had once stood proudly at Main and State Streets. The WCTU women here had unveiled it July 10, 1900, a combined fountain and lamp post meant to shine both light and temperance into the community.

Yet, as automobiles multiplied, the old granite bowl was struck again and again until it was finally moved—and then disappeared. Today, Frances found only stories and a modern fountain in the new Town Square, a reminder that not every monument survives, but the cause that placed it remains remembered.

Fountain Facts

Erected: July 10, 1990
Location: Originally at Academy & State Streets; later South Academy Street
Update: Struck repeatedly by cars; moved after 21 years; eventually disappeared

Cranbury

The ride north brought Frances to Cranbury, a charming village with its green shaded by towering trees. Along Main Street, by the edge of Brainerd Lake, she found a simple but dignified stone fountain. Raised in 1907 by local WCTU women, it had endured decades of use before falling silent—only to be restored in 1979, when townsfolk rededicated it to the community.

Frances traced the lettering on its face, a clear testimony to the persistence of women who would not let the memory of temperance fade.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1907
Location: Main Street, by Brainerd Lake
Inscription: “Presented by the WCTU 1907 / Restored 1979”
Update: Restored and still in place, visible along Cranbury’s historic main thoroughfare

Ocean City

With the salt air in her lungs, Frances pedaled into Ocean City, a seaside resort that prided itself on “family-friendly” values rooted in its Methodist beginnings. On the corner of Ninth and Asbury, in front of City Hall, she found a tall granite fountain erected in 1912 (though not dedicated until 1915). At six feet tall, with a trough for dogs at its base, it was both practical and symbolic. Even after a century, the fountain still trickled, refurbished for its 100th anniversary, continuing to quench the thirst of passersby and pets alike.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1915 (after City Hall was completed)
Location: NE corner of Ninth Street & Asbury Avenue, in front of City Hall
Update: Restored around 2012 for its centennial

Salem

Turning southwest, Frances entered Salem, one of New Jersey’s oldest towns, its streets lined with Quaker history and colonial brick. In a small park across from the old courthouse, she discovered the WCTU fountain, still bearing the inscription, “Let him that is thirsty come. WCTU 1901”

Erected in 1901, the fountain once welcomed farmhands, townsfolk, and schoolchildren alike. Frances paused at the base, imagining how many had stopped here for refreshment, its message of sobriety carved in stone.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1901
Location: M.L. King, Jr. Mini Park (Market Street & MLK Jr. Drive)
Inscription: “Let him that is thirsty come. W.C.T.U. 1901”
Update: Still standing, a testament to the endurance of WCTU ideals

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Delaware
Rehoboth

Frances steered Gladys into Delaware and headed straight for Rehoboth Avenue. She referred to the WCTU Drinking Fountains book. There was not much information, only that this fountain was erected in 1929.

Frances turned to Saint Courageous and said, It looks like we have research to do in the WCTU Archives when we return home.

Erected: 1929

Location: Delaware

Update:

Virginia

Richmond

Frances and Gladys coasted into Richmond beneath tall oaks and the sweep of history. Saint Courageous bounded ahead as they entered Byrd Park, a beloved green space where families strolled, children laughed, and the James River’s waters shimmered nearby.

There, standing quietly among the trees, she found it: a stone fountain with a tall inscribed tablet. Its words spoke of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s gift to the city, a memorial meant not only to quench thirst but also to encourage healthier choices in a time when saloons stood on nearly every street corner.

Frances paused to read from the inscription, her voice carrying softly in the park air:

“This fountain erected by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Richmond City and Henrico County and their friends in memory of the Crusaders of Hillsboro, Ohio who went out December 19, 1873 with the weapons of Prayer and Faith in God to overthrow the liquor traffic.

And also in memory of Frances E. Willard, organizer of the

Woman's Christian Temperance Union."

"The bravest battle that ever was fought
Shall I tell you where and when?

On the maps of the world you will find it not,

'Twas fought by the Mothers of men."

She thought of the women who had raised the funds, advocated with city leaders, and insisted that Richmond deserved a free public fountain. Their vision had outlasted the controversies of their day, and the fountain still welcomed visitors.

As Saint Courageous lapped at the basin’s cool water, Frances rested one hand on Gladys’s handlebars and the other on the old stone. “Your voices are not forgotten,” she whispered, sensing that the Union’s spirit remained alive in every word engraved on the monument.

“Yes, dear friends,” Frances says softly, “the story of these fountains is not finished. They remind us still that even a small act of love can outlast the ages.”

Fountain Facts

Original Fountain Erected: 1927
Location: Byrd Park (near Fountain Lake)
Inscription: Honors temperance, purity, and truth; a visible WCTU statement to the community
Update: Still standing in Byrd Park, maintained as a historic marker and community landmark

North Carolina

Greensboro

The air grows warmer as Frances pedals into North Carolina, Saint Courageous trotting eagerly beside her, his ribbon fluttering in the breeze. Rolling hills give way to wide fields, and the scent of pine drifts through the air.

She rode up to 503 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. There, she found the WCTU fountain still stands. It is weathered with age, yet still dignified, a quiet witness to generations who have passed by. Families pause for photos, while a young boy traces the carved lettering with his hand.

Frances halts Gladys and gazes with affection.

“Here, dear friends, the White Ribbon women worked with the same determination as their sisters in the North and West. In 1909, their fountain conveyed a message of health and protection for home and family. It still whispers its truth to every passerby: choose life, choose love, choose purity.”

Saint Courageous puts his paws up on the fountain’s edge, peering into the dry bowl, as if expecting water to flow. Frances laughs gently and strokes his ears.

“Ah, my faithful friend, whether for man or beast, the gift was the same: refreshment freely given.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1909
Location: 503 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Iscription reads: Presented to the city by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in loving memory of Caroline Gillespie Gorrell 1909
Update:

Georgia

Griffin

The Georgia sun is bright as Frances pedals into Griffin, Saint Courageous padding faithfully alongside. The courthouse square bustles with life — children with ice cream cones, cars humming past, and families stopping for photos.

They continued to Memorial Park. There, the old WCTU fountain still holds its place.

Frances halts Gladys, one hand resting on her bicycle seat.

“Here in Griffin, faithful women built a fountain not only of stone, but of conviction. In 1916, it was a gift of health to the community. In 2026, it remains true: prevention is better than a cure. To offer water freely is to offer kindness that outlives generations.”

Saint Courageous laps from a puddle at the base, drawing laughter from nearby children.

Fountain Facts

Erected: September 28, 1916
Location: Memorial Park
Inscribed: "For God and home and native land."
Update:

Atlanta

The ride continues to Atlanta, a city that has grown far beyond anything Frances could have imagined. Skyscrapers rise around her, traffic roars past. Frances steadies Gladys and looks around with awe.

“How marvelous that here, in a great city of commerce and movement, the voice of the WCTU remains. In 1923, this fountain was meant to turn men away from the saloon; it testifies still that the smallest act of love — a cup of water — has power as it is displayed in the Georgia Capitol Museum today. ”

She turns to her companions, smiling.

“The message of Atlanta’s fountain is the same as Griffin’s, and the same across the nation. It is a remider to care for your neighbor, and ‘Do Everything’ you can to lift up the world.”

Fountain Facts

Erected in 1923
Location Atlanta
Update: Preserved in the Georgia Capitol Museum

New York

Canton

Crossing from Pennsylvania into northern New York, Frances pedals Gladys past rolling hills until the college town of Canton greets her. The WCTU fountain still stands near a shaded square, children riding scooters around it.

“Here in Canton, faithful women once raised their pennies for this fountain. In 1876, it offered refreshment to students and townsfolk alike. In 2026, it remains a teacher: prevention, service, and health endure through every age.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: April 6, 1910
Located: Corner of Fourth and Main Street.
Update: Still remembered as part of Canton’s civic history.

Sodus

The road winds toward Lake Ontario, where Sodus’s fountain still rests. Gladys crunches over gravel as Frances halts by the old stone basin, Saint Courageous bounding happily to the water’s edge.

“What joy to see a fountain so near the great waters of your state! This fountain speaks of women’s faith that small gifts matter, even beside mighty lakes and cities.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1917
Located: Sodus Rural Cemetery

Avon

Southwest of Rochester, Frances finds Avon, a town that once bustled with travelers. The WCTU fountain remains, its carved details weathered but strong.

Frances said, according to our Archives, in November 1900, our sisters in Avon decided to erect a fountain. They started their fundraising campaign with $1.05, which they made from serving lunches on Field Day. They sold old footwear, baked goods, ice cream, and lunches. They received donations from organizations until they raised $541.

Local historian, Maureen Kingston, told Frances, "In reactivating the fountain, we pay tribute to those before us who had an idea and a burning desire to serve the community of Avon. We may or may not agree with their cause, but we must thank them for the beautiful legacy they have given us."

On April 25, 2002, the fountain was reactivated with new lighting in the Park Circle.

Frances thought, to some, it was only stone and water; to us, it was a sermon of care. And in 2026, it still preaches silently to all who pass.

Fountain Facts

Erected: July 4, 1904
Location: Park Circle
Update: 2002 reactivated

Churchville

Frances rode west of Rochester to Churchville, where another fountain stands.

Children sat on its edge, eating ice cream from the shop across the street. Frances laughs as Saint Courageous circles them, tail wagging.

She moved closer to read the inscription:

In Memorial

Frances E. Willard

Born Churchville, NY, September 28, 1839

Died February 17, 1898,

An advocate of temperance who devoted her life to that cause,

"By their fruits ye shall know them"

“The gift of water — and of joy. Those who built this fountain would smile to see it still giving life to the community in 2026.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: In the late 19th century
Located: In Riga Library Yard
Update: Maintained as part of the village’s historic identity.

Fredonia

Further west, near Lake Erie, Frances and her companions find Fredonia. The fountain here is modest but carries deep meaning, for Fredonia was a hub of reform in its day.

“How fitting that Fredonia should host such a fountain. Here, the spirit of reform was alive, and here it still speaks in 2026.”

Fountain Facts

Erected:
Located: in West Barker Commons Park, Church Street
Dedicated to the memory of Esther McNeil, one of the Crusaders.

Chautauqua

At Lake Chautauqua, Frances halts, looking out across the water. The fountain here served visitors to the Chautauqua Institution, a place of learning and uplift.

“Chautauqua! Here, learning and reform walked hand in hand. How fitting that a fountain of water stood to refresh those who sought knowledge and truth. In 2026, it stands still, as a testimony to the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: July 21, 1930
Located: In front of the Frances Willard House, New York
Update: Preserved as part of Chautauqua’s rich cultural heritage.

Allegheny

In southwestern New York, Frances and her companions roll into Allegheny. The fountain here is weathered but visible, a relic of faithful reformers.

“Even in small towns, fountains were placed as silent teachers. In 2026, they are still here, whispering their lesson: choose health, choose life.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: April 6, 1910
Located: In Town Hall Park, corner of Fourth and Main Street

Manhattan

Finally, Frances, Gladys, and Saint Courageous arrive in the heart of New York City. Frances marvels at the city’s scale, far beyond anything she imagined in her day.

Amidst skyscrapers and endless traffic, a preserved WCTU fountain stands tucked away in a park.

“Here in Manhattan, where millions rush past, the fountain is small, but its meaning is great. Once it stood against the lure of saloons; today, in 2026, it reminds even this mighty city that pure water is a gift, and that every small act of care matters.”

Fountain Facts

Erected:
Location: Tompkins Square Park, one of the two Manhattan temperance fountains
Inscribed with the symbols of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Temperance.

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Florida
St. Petersburg

It was a very long journey, but the air grew salt-sweet as Frances pedaled Gladys along the glittering Gulf coast, Saint Courageous trotting with renewed energy. Palm trees swayed above the busy streets, and the soft cries of seabirds reminded her that she had reached the far south of her journey. St. Petersburg, bright and bustling, was a city both new and old, its layers of history tucked behind modern glass towers and pastel cottages.

She had been told of a most unusual WCTU fountain here — one that was not outdoors at all, but preserved within the St. Petersburg Museum. Curious, Frances rolled Gladys up to the wide steps and led Saint Courageous inside.

And there it stood: a tall cast-iron street lamp rising from a sturdy fountain base. Two drinking cups once hung from chains at its sides, where water once flowed for passerby, while at the base a shallow bowl had been made so dogs — and even horses — could drink their fill. It was unlike anything Frances had seen so far on her journey, a union of light and refreshment, guiding weary travelers by night and slaking their thirst by day.

She rested a hand on the cool iron, marveling at its survival. This lamp-fountain had once stood on a bustling downtown corner near the Detroit Hotel, had been moved, passed between families, and finally preserved here in 1959. Now, it still carried its quiet witness to the WCTU’s work, reminding visitors of a time when offering a clean drink of water was an act of civic pride and moral purpose.

Saint Courageous gave a soft bark as though in approval, his tail wagging in the museum light. Frances smiled, grateful that this rare treasure had been saved, and readied herself to turn Gladys north once more.

Mr. & Mrs. Earl N. Chiles

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1901
Original Location: Northwest corner of Central Avenue and Second Street, near the Detroit Hotel, Moved to the Hanna family property
Update: Donated in 1959 to the St. Petersburg Museum

Alabama

Huntsville

Frances and her companions ride westward from Florida into Alabama, the roads framed by gentle hills and cotton fields. Huntsville greets them with its mix of Southern charm and space-age innovation. At a quiet spot on Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain, the WCTU fountain stands, still strong.

Frances steadies Gladys and places her hand gently on the fountain.

“Here in Huntsville, as across the nation, our women’s work endures,"

Frances recalled that in early 2001, Butch Chaffin had restored the drinking fountain that had stood on the Huntsville Courthouse Square.

" In 1876 this fountain was a gift of refreshment and prevention. In 2026, it is a gift of memory — a reminder that to ‘Do Everything’ is not just for one time, but for all time.”

Saint Courageous leaps up on the fountain’s edge, wagging his tail at passersby, who stop to smile and snap pictures.

Frances read the inscription:

"Around the turn of the century (1900), a group of women organized into a union whose mission consisted of giving individuals a choice between a drink of water or a drink of alcohol at a nearby saloon. This water fountain was placed on the southeast corner of Madison County Alabama Courthouse Square and remained there until the courthouse was replaced with the current building in the mid 960s. The Woman' Christian Temperance Union exists today and is active in the war against drugs and alcohol abuse. Pleas enjoy a cool drink of watr from this fountain of the past. Help us preserve this piece of hisstory by treating it with kindness."

'Come on, St. Courageous," said Frances, "we have so many more fountains to see."

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1876
Located: 5000 Nature Trail Road on Madison Country Grail on Green Mountain

Gadsden

Turning southward, Frances and Saint Courageous reach Gadsden, nestled on the Coosa River. The old WCTU fountain here stands close to the heart of town, its stone darkened by time but still dignified.

Frances dismounts Gladys, brushing the dust from her skirt.

“How proud the women of Gadsden must have been to place their fountain by the river!

Their hope was that every man, woman, and child would choose water instead of whiskey.

And in 2026, this fountain remains, still telling its story of love and prevention.”

Saint Courageous barks and wags his tail as a family walking along the riverfront pauses to admire the fountain.

Fountain Facts

Erected:
Location: Situated near the town center for maximum use and visibility.
Update: Preserved as part of Gadsden’s civic heritage and WCTU history.

Louisiana
Baton Rouge

The southern air grows thick and warm as Frances pedals Gladys across the Mississippi River into Louisiana. Spanish moss drapes from oak trees, and Saint Courageous pants happily, keeping pace as the trio approaches a courthouse square where a WCTU fountain still stands.

Frances slows, leaning on Gladys, her gaze soft with memory.

“Here in Louisiana, the fountains told the same story as they did in the Northeast and beyond: prevention through refreshment, love through service."

Franes took her WCTU Drinking Fountains book out of Old Faithful. She began to read, "The original Hebe statue was dedicated in 1914. The statue's first pedestal held blocks of ice, which provided a cool drink of water. In 1984, it was torn down to make way for a bus stop, which has since been removed. In 2000, an Outdoor Sculpture Committee was formed. Looking at a photograph, they ordered the missing parts. On February 13, 2006, a rededication service was held."

Families stroll past, some pausing to read the plaque at its base. Saint Courageous circles the fountain, sniffing happily as if greeting an old friend.

“Yes, my dear companion,” Frances laughs gently, “you know well that these fountains were meant for both man and beast.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1914
Location: North Boulevard between Third and Fourth Street.
Update: Preserved today as important markers of Southern WCTU history and the Centennial movement.

New Mexico

Las Vegas

Leaving the Deep South behind, Frances pedals Gladys across open countryside. The air becomes drier, the landscape turns rugged, and mesas rise on the horizon. Saint Courageous trots loyally beside her, occasionally chasing after a jackrabbit before circling back.

Finally, the historic town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, appears in view. Lion Park at the triangle formed by Lincoln, Grand, and Manan Streets stands the WCTU fountain — sun-bleached and weathered, yet still striking.

Frances dismounts Gladys and places her hand on the warm stone.

“How wondrous to find our white-ribbon work here, so far from the eastern fountains! Imagine the courage of those women, raising their pennies in this frontier town to give a gift of pure water. In 1886, it was a beacon of care in the desert. Even today, it is a voice from the past, still calling out: choose life, choose purity, choose love.”

Saint Courageous lowers his head to drink from a little rainwater gathered at the basin, tail wagging in contentment.

Fountain Facts

Erected: December 16, 1886.
Location: Town plaza
Update: Still surviving today as one of the westernmost WCTU Centennial fountains

Nevada

Reno

The desert sun is strong as Frances pedals Gladys across wide, open stretches of land.

Sagebrush dots the plain, mountains shimmer in the distance, and Saint Courageous trots beside her, his tongue lolling happily in the dry air.

At last, they arrive in a Nevada at the Union Pacific/Amtrak Depot at 135 E. Commercial Row, where a WCTU fountain stands. Though many years have passed, the fountain still tells its story.

Frances rests her hand on Gladys’s seat and looks at the small crowd gathered nearby.

“How remarkable that even in Nevada, where the frontier spirit was once so wild, women planted their testimony of temperance. In 1908, this fountain was a symbol of hope and prevention. In 2026, it is a reminder that the smallest acts of faith can take root even in the hardest soil.”

Saint Courageous barks, drawing laughter from children who have gathered. Frances again pulled her WCTU Fountains book from Old Faithful and read to the children.

"In 1905, the WCTU, led by Mrs. Alice Chism, and the Red Cross society, led by Mrs. George Lancôme, joined together to build a water fountain for the town. The Nevada Engineering Works offered to build a fountain for $690. The WCTU donated $328, and the Red Cross gave $362. The fountain was dedicated on October 17, 1908, as a memorial to the veterans of the Spanish-American War. The speaker called the fountain "A symbol of patriotism."

"In 1932, the fountain was relocated to Idlewild Park. In 2005, the Reno Historical Resources Commission, with support from the City Council, Public Works Department, and Parks and Recreation Department, restored the fountain and moved it to the train station."

The children loved hearing about the fountain. Frances was ammazed it had been moved so much.

Fountain Facts

Erected: October 17, 1908
Location: Nevada
Update: Moved to train station

California

Chino

Frances rolls across the desert from Nevada into the fertile Chino Valley. Once known for its dairies, the town’s WCTU fountain still stands in a small park near the center.

Frances leans on Gladys, smiling as families pass with strollers and children stop to play.

“Here in Chino, as across the land, our sisters raised their testimony in stone. In 1908, weary workers and travelers stopped here to quench their thirst.

In 2026, it remains a witness that kindness refreshes both body and soul.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1908
Location: Chino
Update: Preserved as a local landmark

Ontario

Just a short ride away, Frances and Saint Courageous arrive in Ontario and head to Eclid Avenue at C Street. The historic WCTU fountain stands proudly in the parkway median near the city’s civic buildings.

Frances read the inscription, "This fountain was built by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and dedicated to the city of Ontario on July 4, 1908, to provide the town with a drinking fountain where only the pure, sparkling water can be had at any time by the thirsty one."

Saint Courageous laps at a small pool of rainwater near the base, wagging happily.

Fountain Facts

Erected: July 4, 1908
Location: On the parkway median of Euclid Avenue at C Street
Update: Preserved as part of Ontario’s civic history.

Glendora

Heading into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Frances coasts into Glendora. She rode to Jackson St. She found that the water fountain is no longer there.

“How faithful the women of Glendora were, to place this fountain in their small town.

Their work joined a great chain of fountains across the nation, and like many others, is no more. Tears ran down her face.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1909
Location: Served residents and travelers in the San Gabriel foothills.
Update: Unfound

Riverside

Frances pedals into Riverside, shaded by palm trees. She rode to Mission Inn and Orange Street. Here stands one of California’s most beautiful WCTU fountains, crafted with care and civic pride. Visitors gather around to admire it, snapping photographs.

“What a sermon in stone this fountain has been! In 1907, it stood against the lure of the saloon. Today, it tells the same story: water is life, prevention is love.”

Saint Courageous barks at the splash of a nearby modern fountain, then trots back to Frances’s side.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1907
Located: Mission Inn and Orange Street
Update: Still Standing

Orange

Further south, Frances and her companions arrive in Orange. The town square is busy. Frances rides to 407 E. Chapman Avenue, where she spots the three-tiered, iron fountain outside the Orange Main Public Library and History Center, and at its center, the WCTU fountain still rests. Children gather around it, their parents explaining its history.

Frances leans on Gladys, eyes bright.

“Here, dear friends, in 1887, is the Plaza Fountain. The women of Orange gave their town a fountain to offer refreshment and hope. They could not have known it would remain 150 years later, a testimony to their faith.”

Turning to her WCTU book of fountains, Frances read, Mrs. Robert Temer, a local WCTU, is credited with the idea of a "water feature" in the Plaza. The WCTU raised the $585 needed. To raise the money, they put on a 5 act drama.

In 2002, the "Save the Fountain" committee was formed to raise funds to restore the fountain.

WCTU of California South has been designated one of five "Guardians of the Fountain."A replica of the fountain was presented to them and placed in their State Headquarters.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1887
Located: In front of Orange Public Library and History Center
Update: Preserved today as a beloved part of Orange’s historic identity.

Hanford

The flat roads of the San Joaquin Valley stretch wide before Frances and Gladys. Orchards and fields line the way as they roll into Hanford. In the courthouse square, a WCTU fountain still stands, weathered but proud.

“Here in Civic Park, in Hanford, women once gathered their pennies for this fountain. Farmers, workers, and children stopped here to drink. And in 2026, it still tells its story of health and hope.”

Saint Courageous bounds happily, tail wagging at the scent of orange blossoms drifting on the breeze.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1905
Located: In Civic Park, 315 N. Douty
Update: Preserved today as part of Kings County history.

Fowler

A few miles north, Frances pedals into Fowler. The little town’s fountain is humbler in size but no less meaningful.

“Fowler’s women gave what they had, and this fountain was the fruit of their labor."

Fountain Facts

Erected: In the late 19th century
Located: In City Park, east of downtown
Update: Unknown if still there

Madera

Continuing north, Frances and her companions reach Madera. The fountain here is sun-bleached, standing quietly in the town center.

“How remarkable that even in small towns, these fountains endured. Erected in 1908, the fountain provided pure water for 92 years until it was removed to allow for street repairs. In 2002, sixth graders at Sierra Vista School were researching the history of the city. They saw many photos of WCTU fountain. The students read that the citizens were promised the removal was only temporary. So the students went to a meeting of the Madera County Board of Supervisors to draw attention to the issue. On July 12, 2003, the fountian was returned."

Frances was reminded of how everyone can make a difference!

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1908
Located: Corner of Yosemite Avenue and D Street.
Update: Remembered as a gift of health to the community.

Reedley

Frances rides southeast into Reedley, where farms stretch in every direction. At the edge of town, the WCTU fountain remains, shaded by cottonwood trees.

“In Reedley, our women labored for their families and farms — and yet they made time to place a fountain. This fountain was originally installed in 1909 on Main Street. It was removed during the city's modernization and was later redecicated on October 9, 1999, during the town's annual Fiesta. "

Frances read the inscription, "Original W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union) Drinking Fountain; Installed Downtown 1999; Presented to the City of Reedley by Reedley Historical Society, October 9, 1999; Donated y 'Butch' Saile Family."

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1909
Location: Originally on Main Street
Update: Preserved today as a piece of Reedley’s civic story.

Selma

Finally, Frances pedals back into Selma, a city surrounded by vineyards. She learned the fountain's new location is near the bandstand.

The fountain was made in 1913 of river rocks. It was located at what became a main intersection, so it was removed.

Later, a new fountain was erected with rocks from the original one, and a new WCTU plaque was added.

“Here, amid the vineyards, our fountain was a signpost pointing to a better choice."

Saint Courageous paws at the basin, as though urging Frances to keep moving north.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1913
Location: Lincoln Park at High and McCall
Update: Preserved today as part of Fresno County’s reform heritage.

Watsonville

Frances pedals westward until she feels the cool ocean air again. Watsonville’s rich farmlands stretch wide, strawberries in neat rows. In the heart of town, the WCTU fountain stands shaded in City Plazaa at Main, Beach, Union and Peck Terrace.

“Here in Watsonville, farm families once gathered around this fountain. In 1893, it was a place of refreshment. In 1913, it was modernized. It is a reminder that love takes root in the simplest of gifts.”

Saint Courageous trots ahead and sniffs at a basket of strawberries on a vendor’s cart, earning chuckles from passersby.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1893
Location: City Plaza
Update: Modernized in 1913, preserved today as part of Monterey Bay’s local history.

Petaluma

Heading north into Sonoma County, Frances rolls into Petaluma. The town is lively, with the WCTU water fountain proudly displayed at the intersection of Petaluma Boulevard and Western.

“Even here, in a land of vineyards, the women offered their neighbors a fountain of water. Their quiet act of 1891 still speaks clearly, even in 2026.”

Frances moved forward to read the inscription: "Erected 1891--Total abstinence is the way to handle the alcohol problem."

Frances sat on the bench placed by the California North WCTU beside the refurbished fountain during the 1979 National Convention held in Oakland, California.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1891
Location: Petaluma Boulevard and Western.
Update: Still stands as a civic reminder of temperance work.

Santa Rosa

Only a short ride away, Frances and her companions reach Santa Rosa.

The fountain Santa Rosa WCTU commissioned Kinslow Brothers to construct a granite fountain at the orner of Fourth and B Streets was no longer there.

Frances headed to the local History and Geonology Notes website where she read, "The dedication took place on August 24, 1901, at which time the fountain was, according to a Press Democrat article, 'received into the keeping of the City of Roses by its chief executive, Mayor James S. Sweet, who made a brief and very appropriate speech of acceptance.'"

She also learned that the California Historical Society has a photo of the fountain taken after the 1906 earthquake. The caption presumably supplied by the photographer, James O. Rue: "The only thing on Fourth St. that remains intact."

The question now is, where did the fountain go? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Fountain Facts

Erected: In the late 19th century.
Location: Originally on Fourth Street
Update: Unknown

Arcata

Further north, Frances pedals Gladys through towering redwoods into Arcata. The air is cool and misty, and in the town plaza, the WCTU fountain still stands, framed by history and trees.

Frances pauses, leaning on Gladys with reverence.

“Even here at the edge of the continent, our message reached. This fountain has seen loggers, farmers, and travelers — and still it speaks. In 2026, it remains a sermon in stone.”

Saint Courageous barks as if echoing her words, tail wagging with excitement for the journey ahead.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1912
Location: Arcata Town Square
Incription: Built by the W.C.T.U. of Arcata

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Oregon

Roseburg

Frances, Gladys, and Saint Courageous cross the border from California into Oregon. The rolling green hills of the Umpqua Valley stretch before them, with tall Douglas firs rising against the sky. Roseburg, a quiet town nestled along the river, holds one of the state’s temperance treasures.

In Eagles Park on Jackson Street, the restored WCTU fountain stands. Its stone is darkened by rain and moss, but the carved lines remain clear. Travelers pause to read the inscription, while children climb carefully onto its base.

Frances slows her bicycle and sets one hand on the fountain.

“Here in Roseburg, as in so many towns, faithful women gave this gift of water. They hoped to turn hearts from the saloon by offering refreshment in the open square. They did not know their work would last into 2026 — yet it has. And so their voice still speaks, through stone and water: choose life, choose love, choose purity.”

Saint Courageous sniffs the basin, tail wagging, then trots off to greet a family who has stopped to admire the fountain. Frances smiles warmly, knowing their story is still alive.

Frances once again turns to the WCTU Fountains book to read the history of the fountain.

In 1885, the Roseburg WCTU and the Mental Culture Club purchased a water fountain for the city.

In 1908, it was relocated to the corner of Cass and Main, where it would serve as the base for a new statue. WCTU and the Mental Culture Club purchased a statue of Hebe for $500. It was dedicated on September 30, 1908. On September 7, 1904, the fountain was installed.

On April 4, 1912, Hebe was hit by a runaway team of horses. An effort to restore Hebe began in 2002. At that time, a tentative date for a dedication was set for September 30, 2007, ninety-nine years to the day that the WTU and the Roseburg Metal Culture Club first unveiled the fountain.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1908
Located in Eagles Park on Jackson Street
Update: Restored in 2007

Washington

Olympia

Frances pedals north from Oregon into Washington, the evergreen forests shading her path. She arrives in Olympia, where the state capitol dome rises above the city. Outside the Anacortes Museum, 1305 8th Street, the WCTU fountain still stands, a reminder of another generation’s labor.

Frances steadies Gladys, gazing thoughtfully at the stone basin.

“How proud the women of Olympia must have been to place their fountain here in the capital of Washington. Their hope was that leaders, workers, and families alike would pause for refreshment instead of ruin. In 2026, their work is not forgotten. This fountain still testifies that prevention and love endure.”

Saint Courageous paws at the edge of the trough, drawing smiles from visitors who stop to admire the historic piece.

In memory of Emma E. Page 1853-1910, Emma Page, Although blind from an early age, she wrote and lectured for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, advocating for temperance, education of children, and kindness to animals (known in her time as the "dumb"). After her death in 1910, funds were raised statewide to install this fountain, complete with drinking troughs for animals, as a memorial to her

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1913
Location: Sylvester Park at the corner of Capitol Way and Legion Way

Anacortes

From Olympia, Frances rides north along the shores of Puget Sound, ferries passing in the distance. She reaches Anacortes, a seaside town rich with maritime history. Outside the Anacortes Museum, located at 1305 8th Street, the WCTU fountain, weathered by salt air, still stands steady outside.

Frances dismounts Gladys and breathes deeply of the sea breeze.

“Even at the edge of the sea, our women planted their testimony in stone. Here in Anacortes, sailors, fishermen, and townsfolk once drank freely from this fountain, unveiled on November 26, 1906, at the corner of 5th and Commercial Ave.

At that time, the Anacortes reported that the fountain was "a convenience and luxury long needed...giving the city an air of prosperity."

In 1934, the fountain was moved to Washington Park due to the widening of Commercial Ave. By 1973, it was in serious disrepair, so it was moved to the Anacortes Museum to be restored and then placed on 8th Street. In 2002, it was completely refinished and the plumbing replaced. On October 15, 2002, a ceremony was held to unveil the project.

In 2026, it is a monument not only to temperance, but to courage and care. Its inscription reads: "Dedicated to the public in memory of Miss Carrie M. White Third President of W.C.T.U. of Washington Territory and First President of Anacortes W.C.T.U. by the members thereof"

Saint Courageous sniffs happily at gull feathers scattered nearby, barking at the cries of seabirds overhead.

Fountain Facts

Erected: November 26, 1906
Location: Outside the Anacortes Museum, 1305 8th Street
Update: Preserved as part of the city’s local history

Idaho

Boise

The road east takes Frances and her companions over mountain passes and along winding rivers. The air grows thin and clear as they descend into the valley where Boise lies, the capital city of Idaho. In a shaded square outside City Hall, the WCTU fountain still stands, its stone bright against the green of the park.

Frances slows Gladys and leans on the handlebars, her eyes warm with memory.

“How remarkable, dear friends, that even here in the young capital of Idaho, the White Ribbon women placed their testimony in stone. In 1910, their fountain offered water to weary travelers and townsfolk alike. In 2026, it offers a story — the story that small acts of care can echo across the ages.”

Saint Courageous bounds ahead, sniffing the fountain’s base, then looks up expectantly at the trickle of water. Children laugh nearby as they watch him, snapping photos with their phones.

“Yes, my brave companion,” Frances chuckles, “the fountains were built for you too — man and beast alike.”

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1910
Location: Outside the new City Hall on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Idoho Street
Update: Preserved today as a symbol of Idaho’s connection to the national Centennial fountain movement.

Nebraska

Red Cloud

The prairie stretched wide as Frances pedaled west from Iowa, the horizon a straight line of sky and earth. Gladys hummed along the smooth two-lane highway, while Saint Courageous trotted happily through waves of bluestem grass. Ahead lay Red Cloud, a town whose name echoed with stories of pioneers and Willa Cather’s novels — but also of the women of the WCTU who had planted their message here in stone.

On the front lawn of the Webster County Museum at Wet Fourth Avenue and Franklin Streets stood the fountain, a quiet sentinel among cottonwoods. Its granite bowl, simple and unadorned, bore the faint letters W.C.T.U. Time had softened its edges, but not its meaning.

The lower trough was dry now, no longer visited by teams of horses, but Frances imagined the clatter of hooves and the creak of wagons that once stopped here.

She knelt to let Saint Courageous drink from her water flask, then rested a hand on the stone. “Even here, on the wide prairie,” she thought, “our sisters knew the power of water over whiskey, and of kindness over indifference.”

A local historian passing by recognized her curiosity and shared how the fountain had long been a gathering spot during county fairs. Children once cooled themselves here, mothers filled jars, and tired farmers paused to sip before returning to their fields.

As the sun dipped behind the endless horizon, Frances mounted Gladys once more. Nebraska had shown her that even in the smallest towns, the WCTU’s centennial vision had taken root. Westward still — toward Kansas plains and beyond — the journey beckoned.

Fountain Facts

Erected:

Location: On the Webster County Historical Museum Lawn

Update: This fountain still stands today in front of the museum.

Iowa
Edgewood

The prairie air is crisp as Frances pedals Gladys across the Mississippi River into Iowa. Saint Courageous trots along, stopping now and then to chase a meadowlark or sniff at a fencepost.

The land gently rolls here, with tidy fields stretching to the horizon. In the heart of Edgewood, the old WCTU fountain remains a part of the community. Children climb onto the stone base, laughing, while a pair of cyclists refill their bottles at a nearby hydrant.

Frances stops Gladys and looks fondly at the fountain. “Here, dear friends, is another witness of faith and foresight. In 1876, the women of this small town raised their funds, laid their stone, and offered water freely to all who passed. They knew that prevention was wiser than cure, that giving a healthy alternative was better than pleading after disaster.

And now, in 2026, their gift still speaks.” Saint Courageous bounds into the shade beside the fountain, panting happily, his red-white-and-blue ribbon fluttering in the breeze.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1876
Location: On the corner of Madison and Washington Streets
Inscription: In loving memory of Thera B. True from WCTU

Shenandoah

Leaving Edgewood behind, Frances pedals Gladys along the open Iowa roads, the air filled with the scent of corn and clover. Saint Courageous lopes alongside, his ribbon bright against the green fields. The ride is long, but the welcome in Shenandoah is warm.

On a shaded corner near downtown, the WCTU fountain still stands. Its stone edges are softened with age, but its form is unmistakable. A few locals pause to admire it, while a young couple sits nearby sharing lunch.

Frances smiles as she draws to a stop.

“How well I remember the hope that surrounded these fountains! In 1912, Shenandoah’s women offered theirs with pride, believing it would quench not only thirst but temptation. And here it remains in 2026 — no longer the only source of water in town, but still a silent teacher of wisdom and kindness.”

She pats Gladys’s handlebars, her eyes twinkling.

“Think of it, dear friends: something as simple as a drink of water has the power to change lives, and even generations.”

Saint Courageous dips his head to drink from a small pool of rainwater gathered at the base, drawing a laugh from nearby children.

Fountain Facts

Erected: 1912
Location: Corner of Sheridan Avenue and Clarinda Avenue
Update: Still preserved today as a piece of local and national history.

Evanston

Rest Cottage, Home of the National WCTU

The long trail is behind them now. Frances coasts Gladys down the familiar street toward Rest Cottage, her faithful dog Saint Courageous padding along beside her. The old home stands just as she remembered — wide porches, and the quiet dignity of a place that once buzzed with letters, plans, and prayer. Once her home, now a museum owned by the National WCTU.

She dismounts Gladys, leaning the bicycle gently against the fence. For a moment she simply stands in the yard, looking back over the journey in her mind — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa — all bound together by fountains of stone and the women who built them.

Frances turns to those gathered — the “Friends of Frances” who have joined her in spirit for this virtual ride.

“Dear friends, we have traveled far, yet we have not traveled in vain. At every fountain, we found not only water, but memory. Each stone basin preached a sermon of love, service, and prevention — one that still speaks to you in 2026, as clearly as it did when they were first erected.

The women who built them were not famous in their day. They were ordinary, yet they chose to ‘Do Everything’ — to give what they had, to plant what they could. And now, a century and a half later, their gift still refreshes us.

May we, too, find courage to ‘Do Everything’ for God, for home, and for every land.”

Saint Courageous curls up at her feet, content. Gladys leans against the porch rail, gleaming in the sun. And Rest Cottage, once the nerve center of a worldwide reform, holds their story still.

Frances bowed her head and began to pray...

O Lord of every land and people,
We thank Thee for the miles behind us,
for the fountains that still stand as witnesses,
and for the women whose faith built them stone by stone.

They gave cups of water in Thy name —
to traveler and child, to farmer and horse,
to the weary and the hopeful alike.
They dreamed that kindness could change the world —
and by Thy grace, it did.

As we celebrate this 250th year of our nation,
may we take up their mantle of service.
Teach us, too, to “Do Everything” —
to prevent harm, to spread love, to live with courage.

May pure water remind us of Thy living water.
May these fountains remind us that every small act endures.
And may our hearts, like theirs, be bound together
For God, for Home, and for Every Land.

In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Join us in celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States with Frances Willard as she pedals her beloved bicycle, Gladys, with her loyal dog, Saint Courageous, across America in search of WCTU water fountains.

INTRODUCTION The first National WCTU Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18-20, 1874. The First Plan of Work was adopted.

Illinois

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Entrance of Willard Hall Lincoln Park

Decatur

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Indiana Bloomington

Michigan Lansing

Detroit

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Fountain Facts

Reading

Fountain Facts

Fountain Facts: Coudersport

Fountain Facts

Rhode Island

Cranston

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Leaving Manhattan behind, Frances pedals northeast into Rhode Island, the smallest state with a big reforming spirit.

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“Even in your smallest state, dear friends, the White Ribbon women left their mark, not the way it had been done, but it still gives fresh water."

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Fountain Facts

Built by the Cranston WCTU in the late 19th century.

Located in the Auburn Branch Library, 396 Potian Ave.

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Next the students took Frances to the Cranston Public Library at 140 Sockanosset Crross Road.

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​Kingston

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Heading south, Frances and her companions arrive in Kingston, home to the University of Rhode Island. Students cross the campus nearby, carrying laptops and water bottles. This fountain was requested by the church.

It was donated by Fred and Lucile Votta in memory of her mother, Edna Maine Spooner. Mrs. Spooner was president and LTL Director for many years.

Frances was shown a photo that Mrs. Spooner's great-grandson, Ryan Labriole, took of his son, Jacob Michael Hindson, the great-great-grandson and a White Ribbon Recruit. Mrs. Votta, a fourth-generation WCTU member, served as the Rhode Island State President.

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Join us in celebrating the
250th Anniversary of the United States
with Frances Willard as she pedals her beloved bicycle,
Gladys, with her loyal dog, Saint Courageous,
across America in search of WCTU water fountains.

INTRODUCTION

The first National WCTU Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18-20, 1874. The First Plan of Work was adopted.

Indiana
Bloomington

Michigan
Lansing

Kingston