Fountain on the Plaza nearly ready

The long-dormant Lithia Fountain on the Plaza may again have water flowing from its spigots by the end of the month.

According to water quality supervisor Terry Oldfield, the new basins for the fixture are on their way for a late May arrival. Oldfield said the subcontractors for the project are lined up and the city is merely waiting for parts to arrive.

"I think it's going to be a pretty cool-looking thing," Oldfield said.

The city first installed the fountain in 1927 to showcase the odd-tasting Lithia water, touted for its health benefits. The fountain has delighted the health-conscious (and surprised many a thirsty and unwary passerby) ever since.

The fountain has been out of operation since February of 2006, when vandals smashed four of its eight porcelain basins. All three of the responsible parties were arrested shortly afterward. The fountain became a target for vandalism again in October of 2006, this time marked with graffiti, according to a police report.

The installation of the Ashland Police Department's downtown substation this summer may help to discourage future vandals. The substation will officially open June 6, but police chief Terry Holderness said it may be in use as early as next week.

The new basins will be replicas of the original fixtures. The original basins had a gentle round shape, as opposed to the more utilitarian sink-like design installed in the 1990s.

The new basins were reconstructed by historian George Kramer. While he has not seen the pieces up close yet, he has seen pictures.

"They're gorgeous," Kramer said.

To restore the fountain to its original glory, Kramer first studied old postcard photographs of the fountain. Photographs were sent to architectural salvage yards throughout the country. A yard in Berkeley, Calif., found a match. With an original piece to work with, Kramer commissioned replicas from an Ohio company.

The fountain's new incarnation will have a few subtle but vital differences from the original.

The basins will not be made of porcelain, but of powder-coated steel. This will give them the appearance of porcelain without the fragility. Instead of sporting handles, which would corrode from the mineral-rich Lithia water, they will flow freely for 18 hours each day.

In addition to new basins, the structure itself will receive an overhaul. Oldfield said a new granite block will be installed. The basins will be held in place with an interior frame, rather than being bolted into the granite. The city will also install a new plaque. According to Oldfield, the total cost of the operation is difficult to determine.

While no specifics for a grand-opening ceremony have been discussed, Oldfield and Kramer anticipate an unveiling by the first week of June at the latest. The fountain should be ready to bring smiles — and grimaces — to the faces of tourists and locals in time for summer.