R. D. Whitehead Monument
R. D. Whitehead Monument | |
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Sigvald Asbjornsen | |
Year | 1910 |
Type | bronze and granite |
Dimensions | (35 1/2 in × 35 1/2 in × 3 1/2 in) |
Location | Milwaukee |
43°00′55.49″N 87°55′59.15″W / 43.0154139°N 87.9330972°W | |
Owner | Administered by the City of Milwaukee |
The R. D. Whitehead Monument is a public artwork by
Description
The R. D. Whitehead Monument, also known as the Horse and Dog Fountain and the Whitehead Memorial Fountain, was originally a watering trough,[2] located in Milwaukee's South Side, that was converted into a fountain in 1966. There is a granite pillar rising from the fountain on which there is a bronze bas-relief. The bronze depicts a horse and a dog, both in profile. There are several inscriptions on the sculpture:
The bottom of the relief reads: DANDY GEORGE
The front of the pillar's base reads:
- ERECTED BY
- R. D. WHITEHEAD
The rear of the pillar's base reads:
- ERECTED BY R. D. WHITEHEAD SUPT.
- THE BADGER STATE HUMANE SOCIETY
- IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY FAITHFUL FRIENDS
- HORSE, GEORGE
- DOGS, JIM, FLORA, DANDY, PET
- PUNCH, JUDY & SHORTY
- CATS, FRANK & HENRY
- BIRDS, BROWNEY & DICK
A plaque affixed to the rear of the base reads:
- R. D. WHITEHEAD MONUMENT
- ORIGINALLY A HORSE WATERING TROUGH
- ERECTED IN 1910
- RESTORED AS A FOUNTAIN IN 1966
- BY THE MAYOR'S BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE
- DESIGNATED A MILWAUKEE LANDMARK IN 1974
- IN RECOGNITION OF ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMMUNITY[1]
Historical information
Richard D. Whitehead was appointed by the
At the time that the R. D. Whitehead Memorial was completed, watering troughs were found at many intersections around Milwaukee. "This trough was particularly welcomed by horses that pulled wagonloads of produce to the Farmer's Market nearby on South 16th Street."[2] It is the last watering trough left in the city of Milwaukee and became a City of Milwaukee Landmark in 1964. The trough was eventually turned into a water fountain in 1966. The animals depicted in the bas-relief, George the horse and Dandy the dog, were both animal friends of R. D. Whitehead. The animals listed on the plaque on the back of the monument are all animals the donor loved.
Artist
Condition
In a survey conducted in April 1993, the sculpture was found to need treatment.[1]
See also
- Animalier
- Henry Bergh (sculpture)