In 1897, a philanthropist named Herman Lee Ensign created the New York City-based National Humane Alliance with the goal of promoting animal welfare. The focus of this organization centered on providing fountains for fresh drinking water to primarily horses, as well as people, cats and dogs. Cities were able to request a water fountain and “[the fountains were] delivered to the city where they [were] to be erected free on board [railroad] cars, and the city, or private individuals in it, [paid] the cost of setting up [the fountain], according to the April 14, 1909 edition of the Municipal Journal and Engineer. According to the Denver Public Arts webpage about their own fountain, “between 1906 and 1912, the National Humane Alliance presented somewhere around 125 Horse Watering Troughs to cities and towns across the country.”
An April 29, 1907 Daily Nonpareil issue described the fountain as “of Maine granite, polished and trimmed with bronze. [The fountain is] in five pieces with a total weight of five tons. The height is six feet and eight inches, with the diameter of the large bowl of six feet.” Bronze lion heads dispersed the water in the main bowl while the fountain had four smaller bowls near the base for cats and dogs.
General Grenville Dodge started the process for obtaining a watering trough for Council Bluffs by corresponding with the National Humane Alliance. The city received its fountain on July 16, 1907. A July 17, 1907 Omaha Daily Bee article reported that it would be installed at the intersection of Broadway and Fourth Street, replacing a previous water trough that had fallen into disrepair. A cement base was prepared for the fountain and it was installed and opened for public use at the beginning of August, as reported in the August 7, 1907 issue of the Daily Nonpareil. “Delivery and transfer wagons now take the south side of Broadway as they approach the fountain and at almost any hour of the day from one to four or more horses may be seen with noses thirstily shoved into the cool basin.” A dedication ceremony did not take place until October 9, 1907, wherein Mayor Donald Macrae accepted the water fountain on behalf of the city of Council Bluffs. President of the Council Bluffs Park Commission A. C. Graham made a speech on behalf of the National Humane Alliance and General Grenville Dodge also participated in the ceremony as reported in the October 13, 1907 issue of the Daily Nonpareil.
As automobiles became more common, the use of the fountain decreased. In September of 1922 a petition was circulated by business owners to have the fountain removed. They argued that it impeded traffic, it caused many accidents and the bill to keep the fountain in working order was too costly. There was pushback from humanitarians who wanted to keep the fountain intact. It was also a condition of the National Humane Alliance “that [the fountain] never be removed and that it be kept in repair,” as reported in the September 22, 1922 issue of the Daily Nonpareil. Ultimately, the City Council voted to relocate the fountain to the junction of Main and Pearl Streets as there was still enough horse traffic in that area of town to justify the move. A September 6, 1931 Daily Nonpareil article mentioned that the fountain was used by “eight to fifteen horses a day…and dogs come to the base and lap up water from the overflow. Birds also find it a haven on hot, dry summer days.”
By 1952, the fountain was again in danger of being removed. The City Council reasoned that not enough horses passed the intersection anymore to warrant keeping the trough there and, besides, the water to it had been shut off for years. It also interfered with traffic and the city’s proposed street resurfacing plans. The October 14, 1952 Daily Nonpareil article reported the city gifted it to the Parks Department so it could be installed at Dodge Park on the west side of town. It was hoped it would be used during the annual 4-H fair but it remained in storage at the park for several years. The plans to use the water trough at Dodge Park fell through and it was later moved again and stored at Fairmount Park until the 1970s.
A December 2, 1970 Daily Nonpareil article then announced that the trough would be reinstalled at the intersection of Main and Pearl Streets. In early 1971, the fountain was struck by automobiles in two separate incidents, “causing several thousand dollars in damages,” as reported in the Daily Nonpareil from October 31, 1975.
The fountain was repaired but placed back in storage for several years until the Haymarket Square Association requested the fountain be returned to the V-intersection of Pearl and Main Streets. This request was granted by the City Council in 1975. Parks Director Les Hicks said the trough would be moved and plumbing was to be installed so that running water would be available in the summer months.
This time the trough was placed further away from the street with a sturdy flower planter placed behind it and steel posts placed in front of it for added protection. The watering trough is still there today.
Sources
“City Fountains for Horses.” Municipal Journal and Engineer, vol. 27, no.15, 1909, pp.619-623. https://books.google.com/books?id=U5VMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA619#v=onepage&q&f=false
“Council Bluffs, IA.” Electronic Valley, https://electronicvalley.org/derby/Greenway/Fountains/CouncilBluffs,IA.htm.
Daily Nonpareil articles
“The Ensign Fountain / National Humane Alliance Fountain.” Denver Public Art, https://denverpublicart.org/public-arts/the-ensign-fountain-national-humane-alliance-fountain-3/.
Omaha Daily Bee articles