Remember When Someone Filled It With Bubbles?

Fountain with a statue of a woman at the top and trees in the background.
Fountain with a statue of a woman at the top and trees in the background.
Photo courtesy of Francesca Marcotte Rietz, taken 10/12/19.

Did you know she’s called Genevieve? Originally installed in 1900 by the Kilgour family, the fountain at the center of Hyde Park Square has a history of appeasement, not gratitude. At the turn of the century, the tracks for the Jerky, a loud streetcar that ran through Hyde Park until mid-1900s, began to expand into residential neighborhoods. Residents weren’t pleased about the disruption, but Kilgour believed dedication of the fountain would ease their complaints. Growing up, I sat on the park benches across from Genevieve, eating Graeter’s as I stared at the babbling fountain. How does historical context affect your perception?

White historical marker with black and white images and black lettering explaining the past of Hyde Park Square
Photo courtesy of Francesca Marcotte Rietz, taken 10/12/19.

 

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By fall 2019, historic landmarks, local history, PH Wild