The Veterans Memorial Fountain, on the northeast corner of the campus square, was a project of Mt. Morris Post 143 of the American Legion, presented to the Village and dedicated on November 14, 1926, to honor Mt. Morris veterans of World War 1, and the five local soldiers who were killed in action.
A local and global project
Mt. Morris resident Heathcote (“Hec”) Mann designed the memorial and all work not requiring skilled labor was done by local legion members. The fountain was made of stones sent by American Legion Posts, organizations, and individuals across the U.S. and around the world. Many stones were inscribed with donor names and locations.
Although it no longer serves as a fountain, with running water, it remains an honored memorial and reminder of our veterans’ sacrifice.
Preserving an important piece of art
In 2023, the Mt. Morris Economic Development Committee began a challenging project to restore the aging fountain. It would require experienced crafts people and special knowledge of stonework, as well as multiple phases before complete restoration.
After months of research, phone calls, and frustration, Paula Diehl, Executive Director of the Economic Development Committee (EDC), and Rob Urish, the EDC Chair, called the Kohler Foundation, Inc., in Kohler, Wisconsin, looking for someone to appraise the fountain as a first step in the project. As the conversation continued, Diehl mentioned that the nearly 100-year-old fountain needed refurbishing.
“I was stunned when they said, ‘Did you know that’s what we do?'”, stated Diehl. “When they said they could have it appraised and restored I was astonished. After that, everything just fell into place.”
Preservation for the future
The Kohler Foundation, which began preserving art environments across the country in the 1940s, agreed to invest in the conservation of the Veterans Memorial Fountain as an important piece of Mt. Morris history as well as vernacular art. They were excited by the story of local farmers, mechanics, and tradesmen who used humble materials to create self-taught art.
Masonry conservators Heritage Restoration & Design, from Peoria, Illinois, was selected by the Kohler Foundation for their expertise in the material. The work was completed in the summer of 2024 and involved thoroughly cleaning the surfaces, tuckpointing each joint, and reattaching fallen elements, including a stone kept in a garage for safekeeping. The goal was to return the memorial to its original aesthetic. Restoring the water fountain functionality would require more extensive stone and plumbing work in the next phase of restoration.
On August 29, 2024, the refurbished fountain was rededicated and celebrated as a historic and preserved piece of art honoring the soldiers lost in World War 1 and the Mt. Morris residents who built it.