A Refreshing Drink in Victorian Central Park

I'm sure you've seen (and used) drinking fountains in parks, in the summer. They're all pretty much the same: metal, with the little spout, like the ones in schools. Utilitarian, really. But in the 1870s in New York City, you could have yourself a very fancy drink of water indeed. Check out the open onion-dome style of this Central Park drinking extravaganza, which alas was also pretty unsanitary, since it looks  like there were little metal cups attached to it (by chains, I guess) and everyone used those. Never mind, I think I prefer the modern spout! But for looks, this can't be beat. I found an engraving of the fountain in the 1874 guidebook Treat's Illustrated New York  Brooklyn and Vicinity. The photograph, of the same Central Park fountain, is at the splendid New York Public Library Digital Gallery (via, in this case, Wikipedia).

There's also a bird cage in the Treat's engraving - I'd never heard of such a thing in a park, Victorian or otherwise. You'd really think a park was the last place birds would have to worry about cages.

Still thirsty in Victorian Central Park, not just for water but also for a little mystery? Try hiking off to the Spring, where you could also drink water (bring your own tin cup from home, though). It is still there, of course, just north of what is now the Diana Ross Playground at West 881st and Central Park West. The highest spot in Central Park is there, called Summit Rock, and the spring is one of two (I don't know which one is pictured). I hope that this is the one known as Tanner's Spring. It's named for Dr. Henry Tanner, from Minnesota, who fasted for 40 days and nights in the summer of 1880 (from June 28 to August 6). It was a water fast, and he got the water from - well, you know where. The Spring is a great spot for bird-watching in the Park, so they must like the water, too.

And back in the early 19th century, the springs were the water source for a free black village (this was way before Central Park existed) called Seneca Village. Check out this archaeology project at Columbia University for more on Seneca Village.