Fabulous Fountains of New York

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart – "Fabulous Fountains of New York"

Podcast: All Of It, WNYC
Host: Alison Stewart
Date: September 5, 2025
Guests:

• Stephanie Azzarone (Author)
• Robert Rodriguez (Photographer)

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Overview

This lively episode dips into New York City’s rich aquatic heritage through the lens of the new book Fabulous Fountains of New York by Stephanie Azzarone and Robert Rodriguez (married for over 40 years). The episode explores iconic and overlooked fountains, their art and architecture, and their roles in city life—past and present. Interweaving listener call-ins and historical stories, the conversation touches on how fountains have functioned as oases, gathering spots, sources of civic pride, and sometimes, sites for protest or controversy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Allure of Fountains

• Stephanie's fascination:

  • Fountains as urban oases embedding nature in a city of glass and steel.
  • Public art aspect; the linkage between fountain sculptors and museum-quality works (02:04).
  • "If there's a fountain around, I am there." —Stephanie Azzarone (02:04)

• Robert's photographic perspective:

  • Fountains range from ornate sculptures to tranquil pools.
  • Aim was to capture their uniqueness and especially the ways people interact with the fountains, not just postcard shots (02:52).
  • "It's not just a postcard. It's New Yorkers sitting, and sometimes getting their feet and maybe some other parts wet in the fountain." —Robert Rodriguez (03:12)

History: Why Fountains?

• Public Health Origins:
  • Driven by cholera epidemics and unsafe water, the Croton Aqueduct (1842) brought clean water, celebrated with accessible fountains (03:47).
  • Early fountains included attached cups for public drinking—a marked social good (04:37).

Notable Fountains, Stories, and Moments

1. City Hall Park Fountain (05:09–08:43)

• The city's first fountain appeared here; current iteration is a restoration of the 1871 Mould Fountain, returned in 1999.
• The infamous “Civic Virtue Triumphant over Unrighteousness” (1922) sparked major criticism for its gendered symbolism—eventually removed (“banished to the boroughs” per Robert).
• Quote: "If Manhattanites did not like a fountain, they were banished to the boroughs." —Robert Rodriguez (07:25)
• Robert’s photography goal: capture the fountain as integrated with the Woolworth Building and City Hall as well as the local feel (08:01).

2. Fountains for Horses, People, and Dogs (09:27–10:27)

• Many 19th-century fountains served carriage horses—and sometimes humans and dogs.
• The Cherry Hill Fountain (Central Park) designed for horses; the Hooper Fountain (155th & Edgecombe) had basins for all three.

3. Washington Square Park Fountain (10:57–11:35, 19:57–20:17)

• An enduring “scene” where jumping in is expected; site of countless childhood memories.
• Personal history: Both Stephanie and Robert attended NYU and cherished this fountain (11:23).

4. Evangeline Blashfield Fountain (11:35–15:09)

• Obscure, nestled under the 59th Street Bridge on the east side.
• Unique for blending stone and mosaics; features a mosaic portrait of Evangeline Blashfield, fruit-filled “horn of plenty,” and was designed for horses and people.
• "Every time I see this, I feel like plucking one of those apples and having the juices drip down my chin." —Stephanie Azzarone (13:30)
• Robert’s technique: Always place the fountain in context—not just the object, but its relationship to the city.

5. Brooklyn’s Bailey Fountain (16:10–18:44)

• Recently restored after structural work caused by the plaza above a subway line (opened again in 2024).
• Striking sculptures (including a laughing “Nereus/Neptune” figure) and art deco features.
• Structural challenges: “The plaza was actually sinking because it’s right above one of the subway lines.” —Robert Rodriguez (17:40)

6. Listener Shout-Outs & Other Fountains

• The Peace Fountain at St. John the Divine—divisive responses (15:15).
• Vale of Cashmere in Prospect Park—sadly dry, too overgrown to include (15:55).
• Seward Park, Fireman’s Monument fountain, suffrage memorial at Riverside—mixed states of repair (19:07).
• The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows—fountain back on, after many on-off cycles through the decades (24:30–25:44).

7. Bethesda Fountain—Central Park Icon (26:40–29:01)

• Social and artistic epicenter of the park, often crowded and lively instead of contemplative.
• Statue of “Angel of the Waters” by Emma Stebbins, modeled after her partner Charlotte Cushman—a little-known LGBTQ+ art history note (27:04).
• Symbolism: Linked to biblical healing waters; also celebrated NYC’s first clean water system via Croton Aqueduct.

8. Bronx and Staten Island Fountains (21:27–22:33, 29:01–30:56)

• Staten Island:
  • Fountain of the Dolphins (playful, modern, recently restored after Hurricane Sandy).
  • Neptune Fountain at Snug Harbor (classical, beautifully sculpted, recently returned to operation).
• Bronx:
  • More fountains than any other borough except Manhattan.
  • Lillian Goldman Fountain of Life (opulent, mythological motifs, 1873).
  • Fantasia Fountain in Parkchester—exuberant, Art Deco/Art Moderne creatures, pure fun.

9. Art and Artists

• Sal Romano, local artist who created multiple public fountains, honored by a caller (25:44).
• Broader reflection on forgotten or overlooked fountain artists and the importance of public art.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the gendered controversy of "Civic Virtue" at City Hall Park:
  “They were very offended by this. Why, of course, why was the guy in this virtue and why were the women a vice? ... he appears to be stepping on the women's necks. So needless to say, this is not go over well.” —Stephanie (06:36)
• On Washington Square Park’s culture:
  “It’s the fountain in New York where if you want to jump in, no one is going to stop you because they expect you to.” —Stephanie (11:17)
• On the Joy of the Bailey Fountain:
  "He's very muscular, and he has this wonderful ropey beard. And he is laughing. He is just so delighted with the water spilling all over him." —Stephanie (17:01)
• On Restoration Efforts:
  “The dolphin fountain was knocked out of commission during Hurricane Sandy and it’s only in the past three years it was finally restored.” —Robert (22:33)
• On Fantasia Fountain:
  "If you're looking for classical, don't go there. It's not the place, but it will make you smile." —Stephanie (30:56)

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Key Timestamps

• [02:04] Why Stephanie loves fountains (art and urban oases)
• [03:12] Robert on photographing people interacting with fountains
• [03:47] Fountains as solutions to 19th-century public health crises; Croton Aqueduct
• [05:09–08:43] City Hall Park Fountain history and controversies
• [09:27] Listener question: fountains for horses (Cherry Hill, Hooper)
• [11:05] Washington Square Park Fountain—memories and traditions
• [11:35–15:09] Evangeline Blashfield Fountain—a hidden mosaic gem
• [15:55] The desolate Vale of Cashmere in Prospect Park
• [16:10–18:44] Bailey Fountain, its restoration, and playful sculpture details
• [19:57] Listener memories: summers dipping into Washington Square
• [20:26] Croton Aqueduct commemorations in fountains
• [21:27–22:33] Staten Island: playful Dolphin and dramatic Neptune fountains
• [24:30–25:44] Flushing Meadows Unisphere Fountain—on and off through decades
• [26:40–29:01] Bethesda Fountain, queer art history, and symbolism
• [29:12–30:56] The Bronx’s diverse fountains: classical and whimsical

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Episode Tone & Engagement

• Warm, inclusive, encouraging listener nostalgia and civic pride.
• Mix of wit (“If Manhattanites did not like a fountain, they were banished to the boroughs”), affection for oddities (“If you’re looking for classical, don’t go there ... it will make you smile”), and a sense of discovery—inviting New Yorkers to explore, remember, and debate their relationship with public art and communal space.

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Conclusion

The conversation weaves historical context, personal memories, and art appreciation, celebrating the city’s fountains as vital elements of New York’s identity. Whether serving horses, providing clean water, showcasing high art, or simply offering a place for kids (and adults) to splash, these fountains reflect the city’s changing spirit. Fabulous Fountains of New York serves as both a guide and a love letter to these aquatic treasures, encouraging listeners to rediscover the beauty and stories flowing all around them.

Transcript

[A]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thank you for spending part of your day with us. I'm really grateful that you're here today. We'll be talking about debt and how to manage it and your anxieties about it with the co host of the podcast Debt Heads. We'll also look ahead to Grandparents Day, which is this Sunday. And we'll ask you to tell us your grandparents grandparents New York City stories plus the star and director of the new film Preparation for the Next Life. Join us talk about it. It's a story about love and what's next that is coming up. But first, let's get things started with fountains. New York City fountains are places for celebrations, for community, sometimes for protesting. A new book called Fabulous Fountains of New York takes us through 70 of the city's landmark fountains across the five boroughs. Some fountains honor heroes, others once provided drinking water and many carry surprising histories. They range from Bowling Green fountain at Broadway and Beaver street built in 1733 to Domino park fountain in 2018. Author and journalist Stephanie Azzaroni and photographer Robert Rodriguez are my guests today. They've also been Married for over 40 years. Congratulations on that and it's nice to.

[B]

Meet both of you.

[C]

Thank you. Delighted to be here, listeners.

[A]

Do you have a favorite fountain in New York City? Maybe one you pass every day or one that's been part of a family memory? Call us at 212-433-WNYC 212-433-9692 or, or you can reach out to us on social media. You can also text to us at 212-433-WNYC. Stephanie, where did your love of fountains come from?

[C]

Oh, fountains have always appealed to me. If there's a fountain around, I am there. And there are two reasons, really. One, I think of fountains as being a real oases in the city. Here you are in the midst of the nature of water amid all the glass and steel of New York. But also they are art, public art. And many of the sculptures in the fountains I discovered the sculptors behind them also have their work in the museums, the Metropolitan Museum especially. So the quality of the art behind these fountains is quite high and impressive.

[A]

Robert, for you as a photographer, what do you like about fountains?

[D]

They're all very different and as sorry as a photojournalist, my job was to make each to show the uniqueness of each one. Some of them are beautiful sculptures, water flowing and others are pools, just very tranquil pools of water with little spouts coming up. So they're all very different. And I think my job was to interpret them and to show them in their setting and also, most importantly, to show how the people interact with them. It's not just a postcard. It's New Yorkers sitting and sometimes getting their feet and maybe some other parts wet in the fountain.

[A]

Stephanie, what were some of the main reasons that fountains were established in the city, and when was the heyday for fountains?

[C]

Ah, well, this all began really in 1842 and many years prior to that. There was not healthy water to drink in the city. There were a number of cholera epidemics. In one of them, 3,500 people died because the water had become contaminated. So the citizens demanded that the city do something about it. And in 1842, the Croton Aqueduct was established to bring clean water, healthy water to the city for the first time. And a number of fountains were created as a result of that, both to celebrate the availability of clean water and to make it immediately accessible to people. In the beginning, there were actually cups attached to the fountain so people could drink from them directly.

[A]

We are talking about a new book, Fabulous Fountains of New York. My guests are author Stephanie Azzarone and photographer Robert Rodriguez. Let's get into some of the fountains in the book.

[E]

We can ask you some other questions later.

[A]

But the first fountain I want to get into is City hall park fountain. This is between Broadway and Park Row. Stephanie, you write downtown jury duty feels more of a celebration when it involves an outdoor lunch break near City Hall Park. What makes it such a lively part of the park?

[C]

Oh, there's so much to that fountain, both in terms of history and in terms of aesthetics. It is absolutely gorgeous. From my point of view.

[D]

It has, I would call it a Victorian jewel. Yes, it's gorgeous.

[C]

Yes, I think that's fair to say. So you have these wonderful golden tips to it. Gilded parts. And the water flows in very enthusiastic way, let's call it. But the history is very notable. The very first fountain in the city appeared in City Hall Park. And the fountain there that is there now is called the Jacob Raymold Fountain. And that was actually the second fountain to appear. And that was there for some time. But over time, people grew tired of this Victorian style. And that was then replaced in 1922, I believe it was, by a fountain called Civic Virtue Triumphant over Unrighteousness. And that caused a great deal of upset because it was a sculpture of a muscular man holding a sword and standing over figures that had the faces of Women and the bodies of women, but the tails of serpents. And this. The women of New York at the time had recently gotten the right to vote. And so they were very offended by this. Why, of course, why was the guy in this virtue and why were the women a vice? And also, by the way, he appears to be stepping on the women's necks. So needless to say, this is not go over well.

[D]

Was it well received?

[C]

No, not at all. Not at all. There were a lot of boos when this was unveiled in City Hall Park. And then eventually, because of the negative reaction and because Mayor LaGuardia got very tired of seeing the naked back end of this particular statue from his office window in City hall park, that was moved and that was replaced by the Delacorte fountain. And people eventually tired of that and that was sent to the Bronx. It was a habit. Apparently at that time, if Manhattanites did.

[D]

Not like a fountain, they were banished to the boroughs.

[C]

Yes, they were indeed. So actually, two of those fountains went to the Bronx and one to Queens. And eventually City hall Park in 1999 was restored to its Gilded Age glory. And the Muld Fountain, which had been there in 1871 and then disappeared to the Bronx, was returned and its absolutely glorious.

[E]

Robert, you had to take a picture of this for the book. It's right here on page 25. What did you want to concentrate on in this picture?

[D]

The architecture, the style of it. As I said, it's a jewel, it's gorgeous. It's a classical fountain in so many ways. But also what I found most intriguing about it was the integration of the fountain and how it fits so nicely into the park and also into the surrounding areas. One side you have the Woolworth Building and you know, that's gorgeous as it is. And then to the north you have City hall and the statuary on top of that, the statuary on top of the Municipal Building. It's just the perfect fountain for that space.

[A]

Let's take a call. Jonathan is called.

[E]

John is calling in from Manhattan.

[A]

Hi John, thank you so much for taking the time to call. All of it.

[F]

Great subject. Love the show. There's a fountain at 77th street in Riverside Drive that I found out a few years ago had a flow of water that went down the wall into Riverside park and fed a fountain where horses would drink from it. And I'm wondering if there's a big connection between any of these early fountains and horses looking for a drink of water in their carriage, horse people and so on. So I'm wondering if There's a connection there, and I thought you'd know.

[C]

Yes, and actually, that's a wonderful question because one of the things that surprised me so much in doing research for this was the number of fountains that were created for horses, and some of which were created both for horses and for humans. There was a thing at the time to create fountains for man or beast. That was the quote that was used. And there are many of them around the city. There's a wonderful one in Central Park. It's called the Cherry Hill Fountain, and that was initially designed for horses. There's another great one up on Edgecombe Avenue and 155th Street.

[D]

That's the Hooper.

[C]

That's the Hooper fountain. And that's a combination, a unique combination. There's one basin for horses, there's one basin for people to drink from, and there are two little basins on the side for dogs. So, yes, there were many, many horses around when these were created, and yes, they had the opportunity to drink from them.

[A]

This is a nice text we got. Washington Square park fountain. I lived in Greenwich Village with my family. I used to splash in it as a young child in the early 1960s. If you have memories of your favorite fountain in New York, give us a call. 212-433-969-2212, wnyc. You can call or you can text us, or you can reach out on Instagram @olivetwnyc. My guests in studio are Stephanie and Azzaroni.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

And Robert Rodriguez. We are discussing their new book, Fabulous Fountains of New York. Did you want to say something about Washington Square?

[C]

Oh, just that it's a wonderful place. Wonderful place to go have fun. It's the. It's a scene. The Washington Square park fountain has always been a scene. It's the fountain in New York where if you want to jump in, no one is going to stop you because they expect you to. At the Washington Square park fountain.

[D]

Also, we have a history with Washington Square park and the fountain in that. We both went to NYU many, many.

[C]

Years ago, so that was my first exposure to New York City fountains.

[A]

Our next fountain we're going to look at is Evangeline Blashfield. It's at East 59th between first and Second Avenues. It's underneath the bridge there. And she was named. She was the founder of the Municipal Art Society.

[C]

Yes. Yes, she was. Actually, this ties into the question about horses and fountains. This is one of my truly favorite fountains in all of the city because it is very different in many ways. It Is not a very visible public fountain. It is all the way east on 59th. As Alison was just saying, it is within the courtyard of a private event space, and it's kind of built into the far east wall, and parts of it are actually covered with foliage in summer. It is actually within the shadow of the Edcotch Queensborough 59th Street Bridge. And it's relatively small. The central part is about 4ft across and 9ft tall. But what makes this really special, aside from fact that it was designed both for horses and for people, is that this is the only fountain that we have discovered that is made of both stone and mosaics. Evangeline Blashfield donated this, or let's say she created the fountain. Her husband was the artist, and Evangeline posed for this. So it is a portrait of her in a very regal pose. And the background, the style sky, are these beautiful sparkling blue mosaics. And there's a blanket of deep colored mosaics undulating across her lap. But the most interesting part of the design is this horn of plenty that is just spilling out melons and apples and grapes and blueberries in colors of blue and purple and gold and orange. And it is absolutely glorious in these mosaics to the degree that every time I see this, I feel like plucking one of those apples and having the juices drip down my chin. It's just wonderful.

[E]

And, Robert, the way that you filmed it, you pictured it in the book. It shows it in context, which I think is really interesting.

[D]

That's, I think, one of the key things. Sorry.

[G]

No problem.

[D]

Sorry about that.

[A]

He's gonna take a drink of water, and then he's gonna tell us about.

[D]

The fountain in many cases. Again, I was talking earlier about, I didn't want to do postcards. Anyone can do a postcard picture. And in the city, every fountain or so many of them have. They need to have the source, they need to have the background, they need to show how it integrates into the city. And here, this was a perfect way to do it with the. The Queensborough Koch 59th Street Bridge behind it. And then we learned later that it had been inside, where it was surrounded initially by guastavino tile as this beautiful space. And back in the 20s, the 30s, when that area was a market, a.

[C]

Produce market, farmer's market.

[D]

Yeah. So I think that was for the horses delivering or picking up or whatever. But my goal always was to put the fountain in its location and to show the people where it is, not just the fountain itself.

[A]

This text says, I love the peace fountain at St. John the Divine. It's gorgeously designed. I spent a lot of lovely days there as a Columbia undergraduate. They gotta laugh.

[C]

You gotta laugh. Yes, there are mixed reactions to the Peace Fountain, I have to say.

[A]

Let's talk to Vince from Brooklyn. Hey, Vince, thanks for making the time to call all of it today.

[H]

Hi.

[B]

Hi.

[H]

I'm calling about the Vale of Cashmere, the sign of the Vale of Cashmere in Prospect Park. It's a wonderful spot for birdwatching. So it's not currently working as a fountain.

[E]

That's interesting.

[C]

Yes, yes. We had visited that, actually hoping that it might be working. And it is dry, unfortunately.

[D]

And it's so overgrown, the weeds and the. There is a body of water there. But it's such a desolate area that we said, all right, no, let's not include this.

[C]

Yeah, it's too bad it was dry. Too many. Too many of the fountains are dry.

[A]

Let's talk about some fountains in Brooklyn that are working. The Bailey Fountain, a Grand Army Plaza on the north side. A lot of people have wondered why it often sat dry, but it was finally restored in 2024. Can you tell us more why it was restored?

[C]

Oh, there was a lot of work that was going around the area of the fountain, and we were, when we first visited, that, too was dry because of the work. And. Yes, just finished last year. And this is another wonderful fountain. It's basically in two parts. The top part is a kind of deco style. Man and woman, back to back, and a little child. But the most appealing part of this fountain is actually the base where they have various gods and tritons and so forth and classical figures and frogs.

[D]

Don't forget the frogs.

[C]

Don't forget the frogs. And there is one character there. It is either Neptune or it is Nereus. Different interpretations. Nereus was called the old man of the Sea. And this character is so striking because, yes, you can see it's an aged God. You can see the wrinkles around his eyes. But he's very muscular, and he has this wonderful ropey beard. And he is laughing. He is just so delighted with the water spilling all over him. And the water is very forceful, and it's just a wonderful sight.

[E]

What do you like about this fountain as a photographer?

[D]

It has a lot of dimensions to it, as Stephanie said. The sculptures, the art deco figures are incredible. But the rest of it is. The shape of it is a long oval. And you have Nereus on one side. You have maybe another Neptune with the triton blowing on the horn. The water comes in from different angles. We weren't able to get there at night, but probably there is some illumination at that time. And to go back to the question, it was out for about two years and that was structural. They had to redo the entire plaza. The fountain itself, I think was okay, but the plaza was actually sinking because it's right above one of the subway lines. So they had to just fix it. And I had a friend who thankfully lived nearby and I would ask her from time to time on her runs, is it on today? And finally I got the answer, yes, it is on.

[C]

So she was our spy.

[I]

Yes.

[E]

We're talking about fabulous fountains in New York. We'll get to more of your calls and we'll have more with our guests Stephanie Azzarone and photographer Robert Rodriguez.

[C]

This is all of.

[A]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guests in studio are Stephanie Azzarrone and Robert Rodriguez. They've written a new book called Fabulous Fountains of New York. We've invited you to call in and tell us your stories of fountains. Let's see, we've got the Seward Park Fountains Shift fountain. It's in desperate need of renovation. The gorgeous fountain at the Fireman's Monument at A Hundred street and Riverside Drive up near the service road. It's festooned with sculptures of men and women and horses and angels dedicated. Dedicated to fallen firefighters, both human and equine. The tiny fountain at the 115th entrance to Riverside park, dedicated to women's suffrage. Not currently working. Let's talk to Paul Adam who is calling us from the East Village. Hi, Paul Adam, thanks for calling, all of it.

[B]

Yeah, hi. Thanks, Allison. Thanks for. Appreciate you taking my call. My memory is every summer I dunked my hair in the Washington Square park fountain just to cool off.

[D]

Just your hair or any other parts?

[B]

Well, I figure no more, no less.

[D]

Okay, thank you.

[A]

Thanks for calling. Let's talk to Sam from Manhattan. Hi, Sam, thanks for calling, all of it.

[H]

Hey, how are you? The 1842 fountain was also to commemor or to begin the municipal water supply curve. The Croton system was finished in 1842. There were fountains and three day celebrations and the recreation of the park City hall park now was also to commemorate like the original Croton fountain to celebrate the water supply. Also it coincided with turning on the third water tunnel in 1999.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, 1842 was the first fountain. It was a very simple fountain, although it was very large. It was about 100ft in diameter. And there was a huge event at the time. There were parades, there was a special song written called the ode to the.

[D]

Croton Fountain or something like that.

[C]

That fountain was called the Croton Fountain. Yes, and lots of lots going on and on that day. It was a city holiday. And the other fountains followed that one.

[A]

So, yes, let's talk about Staten Island. There are two fountains in the book from Staten Island. The fountain of the dolphins and Neptune Fountain. The playful fountain of the dolphins is the entrance to south beach. And the classical Neptune fountain at Snug Harbor. What do you think they tell us about fountains across the city?

[C]

I think they really say that the fountains vary so much in design. These two are excellent examples of that. The dolphin fountain is located first of all along a very busy street. It's a six lane street on one end and on the other end is the boardwalk and beach. And I look at the Dolphin fountain as kind of a portal between everyday life and the relaxation of the beach. But this particular fountain, it's more modern in style. It is six bronze leaping dolphins. They are life size and it, it's just so fun. And that's very different from the Neptune Fountain also in Staten Island. Do you want to talk about that one, Rob?

[D]

I'll tell you a little bit about both. One thing, both of these are success stories. The dolphin fountain was knocked out of commission during hurricane Sandy and it's only in the past three years it was finally restored. Now the Neptune fountain at Sailor Snook harbor, the original fountain goes back to 1892. But the first time we visited that area about four or five years ago, there was this very forgotten, very forlorn pool. This gorgeous Neptune sitting so alone. Cracks in the pool. The water had been off for about 10 years there.

[C]

It was very sad.

[D]

And that's sort of what has happened to a number of fountains. They're either deferred maintenance, no maintenance, or people have completely forgotten about them. The good news there is when we were fact checking just to get our book to the publisher, I reached out to the coordinator there and she told me that In June of 2024, the water was turned back. So we had to make a quick trip back there to actually get photographs and to check the background on it. But it was wonderful to see it. It still needs a little work, but to me, this Neptune fountain is one of the most gorgeous. The sculptural quality of it is by far one of the best that we've seen. His gaze is so intense and dramatic. I mean, you have to see his face close up. And now he's riding on his chariot, his chair with two dolphins in the pool of water. So that, to me, was wonderful to see.

[A]

This text says, my fountain is the Unisphere at Flushing Meadow. After a bad day, I went for a run and found that they had turned it after years of being off. And it made my day. What can you tell us about the fountain at the Unisphere in Queens?

[C]

So we are thrilled to hear it is back on. When we wrote the book, it was off, and it was very depressing that it was off. That fountain has been up and down ever since the World's Fair. 64, 65. It was. It was fabulous. During the fair, there were 96 fountain heads in a double row, and they shot water 20ft into the air. And the pool itself was over 300ft in diameter. It's huge. But come the 70s, it was full of graffiti, and it was grimy, and there was no water, and it went back and forth. It was repaired again around 1990, and that was working, and then it stopped working again, and it repaired once again in the early aughts. So I am delighted to hear the last time we were there, it was not yet on. So thank you for sharing that news with us.

[A]

Let's talk to Claudia, who's calling in from SoHo. Hi, Claudia, you're on the air.

[B]

Oh, hello. I just wanted to mention a wonderful friend and artist named Sal Romano who did a number of fountains in New York. I think there was one downtown near City hall, and then I think he did it one in Queens. He may have done more, but I don't remember. He has worked in the Museum of Modern Art, and it was something that was a great passion of his to do fountains in New York. And I just wanted to mention him because I don't want him to be forgotten. That's lovely. Yeah.

[A]

Thank you so much for calling in.

[B]

He was a great artist.

[E]

Thank you so much for calling in. Let's talk to Gabriel on the Upper west side.

[A]

A lot of people have a lot of questions about this one.

[E]

Go, Gabriel.

[F]

Oh, I'm honored to be the one to represent all of us. And actually, I wasn't sure if you guys had already spoken about this because it's such an iconic one. So I have a backup question as well, but maybe we won't get to that, but drumroll, please. Bethesda Fountain. Hit us.

[C]

Oh, hit us. Hit us.

[A]

Give us some facts about Bethesda Fountain.

[C]

Okay, so Bethesda Fountain was created in the 1870s. I always think. Usually I think of fountains as a place for contemplation. This is more one for celebration because of all the crowds that are all around, is a wonderful fountain. The statue, the angel of the Waters, is very impressive. There's an interesting story behind that. The designer behind Bethesda Terrace, Calvert Vaux, wanted a statue there that would represent the theme of love. And the sculptor of the statue, Emma Stebbins, is said to have designed the statue after her lover, Charlotte Cush, who was a famous actress at the time.

[D]

Played both male and female roles.

[C]

And this is such a gathering place for everyone. The statue itself, the theme here, is based in part on scripture. In the Bible, there's a story about an angel coming down from heaven and. And stirring the waters of Bethesda near Jerusalem. And anyone who then entered those waters would be cured of what ailed them. And so this fountain, this statue of the angel of the Waters, was designed to say that the Bethesda fountain waters, since those waters came from the Croton Reservoir and the aqueduct that were bringing clean water to the city for the first time, could also heal people now that they had healthy water to drink. It's a marvelous place. I love the activity that goes on there.

[E]

We've forgotten one borough. I have to get to it before we wrap. Robert, what should we look for in the Bronx? Where should we go to find a magical fountain?

[D]

Well, first of all, the Bronx has more fountains than any other borough besides Manhattan. And we were delighted when we did the research. We thought maybe we'd find one or two. We found six, seven. So the best ones that we like. The water. I'm sorry, the life near Botanical Garden. What's the name of that fountain of life? Fountain of Life, which is.

[C]

Lillian Goldman.

[D]

Fountain of Life is just a gorgeous piece of. How would you. Mermaids and mer horses and so much going on in that. There's so much activity with cherubs riding on winged. Not winged, but webbed feet. Horses and mermaids in the pool. And it's just a classic design, probably from.

[C]

This was 1873, I think.

[D]

So it's a very classic fountain. And then the opposite, the best, the most fun, the most exuberant one, I think, in our interpretation is the Fantasia fountain in Parkchester. And that's really the centerpiece of the complex that was built by MetLife in the 40s. And it shows five Art Deco, Art modern, fun creatures all shooting water out of their mouths. And they're not deco, and they're not. They're just indescribable in many ways, but fabulous. But fabulous. And we just loved. We loved that fountain so much. It's a great one just to go and have a great laugh. Really.

[C]

Yes. If you're looking for classical, don't go there. It's not the place, but it will make you smile.

[E]

The book is called Fabulous Fountains of New York by Stephanie Azzarone and photographer Robert Rodriguez. It is out now. Thank you so much for joining us.

[C]

Thank you.

[D]

Thank you.

[G]

Our state has changed a lot in the last 140 years. We know because MultiCare has been here guided by a single purpose, making our communities healthier. That comes from making courageous decisions, partnering with local communities to grow programs and services, and expanding healthcare access to those who need it most. Together, we're building a healthier future.

[I]

Learn [e-mail] this is Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, the science Friday team has been reporting high quality science and technology news, making science fun for curious people by covering everything from the outer reaches of space to to the rapidly changing world of AI to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Audiences trust our show because they know we're driven by a mission to inform and serve listeners first and foremost with important news they won't get anywhere else. And our sponsors benefit from that halo effect. For more information on becoming a sponsor, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.