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P5818b

Details

ID Number: P5818b
Item Name: Image
Title: Unveiling of Leech Fountain / Inauguration de la fontaine Leech
Title (Fre): Inauguration de la fontaine Leech
Date: 1909/08
Description: Black and white photograph of the unveiling of the Leech Fountain in front of the Post Office in Sandwich, Ontario; the bottom 2/3 of the photograph show numerous men and women, many with umbrellas, facing away from the camera; the top part of the Leech Fountain is visible in the centre of the photograph; it has a high basin and the statue of a woman with raised arms spouting water above her head sits in the basin; in front of the crowd is the Post Office covered in banners and flags; there are four men standing or sitting on a platform with their arms and hats raised to the crowd
History: President of the Evening American Publishing Company, William P. Leech was a former well-known Sandwich resident. On the occasion of the Old Boy's Reunion, August 2 - 7, 1909, Leech generously donated a large and handsome water fountain to his native town. It was placed in front of the Post Office and Customs Building. The Post Office was designed by David Ewart of the Department of Public Works. Architectural details such as the dentilled cornice, stone string coursing and round arched window openings suggest a modified Second Empire style while the Palladian main entrance is more classical. Built of brick from the Jules Robinet brickyard, the dormers on the third floor rest on a Second Empire style metal tile roof.
Place made: Canada - Ontario - Sandwich
Collection Name: Museum Windsor