The Genius of Water

I have lived in Cincinnati all my life and I am ashamed to admit that I just learned the actual name of the fountain on Fountain Square. It is called the Genius of Water. Unfortunately, I suppose everyone, at times, takes for granted the jewels of their hometown. You see something often enough it becomes invisible.

But a couple weeks ago we had the pleasure of dining at the Via Vite Italian Bistro on Fountain Square and the chance to revisit one of Cincinnati's most famous landmarks. It was warm enough to be outside without a jacket so we walked around the square before dinner. The fountain was splendidly awash in changing colored lights. My heart welled with Queen City pride.

The fountain today awash in color.

The fountain has been moved and turned around several times since its original installation, but the fountain itself has never changed except for maintenance and lighting. The most fascinating part of the history of the fountain is its rich symbolism which depicts the uses and benefits of water. Quite befitting for a river town.

The fountain contains 13 allegorical figures and rises 43 feet tall:

1- The central figure at the top, the Genius of Water stands 9 feet tall.

There are four groups of figures surrounding the pedestal beneath the Genius of Water:

1. A workman stands on a burning roof and prays for rain.
2. A farmer in a drought ruined field prays for rain. (the lady's outstretched palms provide water's relief and answered prayer to the workman and farmer.
3. A young girl offers water to a man with crutches.
4. A mother leads her reluctant son to the bath.

The pedestal base has four bas-reliefs - four representations in basso-relievo of four principal uses of water:

1. Steam
2. Water-power
3. Navigation
4. The fisheries

Situated around the bottom perimeter of the fountain are four drinking fountains of young boys interacting with water animals: 

1. A boy riding a dolphin
2. A boy playing with ducks
3. A boy wrestling with a snake
4. A boy riding a turtle

The fountain was a gift to the city from Henry Probasco. Those who know the Clifton area will recognize Probasco as a street name. In fact, Henry Probasco did live in Clifton in a mansion he had built and named Oakwood.

Probasco came to Cincinnati from the east in 1835 at the age of 15. He went to work as a clerk for Tyler Davidson & Co. Importers and Jobbers of Hardware, Cutlery and Metals located on Main Street downtown. By the time he was 20 he was made partner in the company and married Tyler Davidson's half-sister, Julia Carrington.

The original location of the fountain

Thirty years later Probasco's partner, friend and brother-in-law, Tyler Davidson, died. Probasco sold his share of the hardware business a year later and he and his wife, Julia, traveled abroad.

Davidson and Probasco had often talked of contributing a monument to the city of Cincinnati. While in Germany Probasco commissioned a fountain to be built then donated to the city of Cincinnati and dedicated in Davidson's honor.

Caroline Williams rendition Fifth Third Center

The fountain was designed by sculptor August von Kreling and was built by Ferdinand von Miller of the Royal Bronze Foundry of Bavaria in Munich, Germany. Von Miller and his sons spent three years casting the bronze fountain in sections from salvaged Danish cannons. The esplanade where the fountain was originally installed was designed by local architect William Tinsley who also designed the Probasco's Cincinnati mansion, Oakwood. The fountain was called "Genius of Water" and was dedicated to the city of Cincinnati on October 6, 1871.