Lebanon
Members of the city’s Fountain Working Group reported last month that collections to repair the Glenwood Cemetery fountain have come up $15,000 short of meeting a $20,000 goal. And unless there is some indication that funding can soon be found, they plan to retire from restoring and installing new fountains.
“We’re believers in the Glenwood Cemetery project, and unfortunately it’s not possible right now to take that to completion,” Lindamae Peck told the Heritage Commission during a Dec. 12 meeting.
Peck is both a member of the fountain group and vice chairwoman of the Heritage Commission, which overseas its efforts. She and Lebanon resident Priscilla Gosselin have worked for more than 20 years bringing the city’s fountains back to life.
“It’s a sad way to retire, but none of us really is prepared emotionally or mentally to go through a lengthy process (on another fountain project),” Peck told the commission in an audio recording of the meeting.
Peck and Gosselin began restoring fountains together in 1998, when they teamed up for a project to bring the Marion Carter fountain back to life.
Together, they repaired or installed six fountains across Lebanon, including those on High Street, School Street and fountains at the Old Pine Tree Cemetery, the Lebanon Mall and in Colburn Park.
Lebanon resident Lorraine Morrison joined the fountain group as it worked on the High Street fountain, and had been active until about eight months ago. She credited Gosselin for much of the group’s work in identifying future fountain projects and finding funding.
“Each fountain has its own challenges of getting donations,” she said, adding the High Street one holds a special place in her heart. “I think the community likes the fountains. I don’t know why we didn’t get more support.”
Soon after the Lebanon Mall fountain was completed, the group turned its attention to Glenwood Cemetery, the final resting place of Civil War veterans, prominent Lebanon residents and business people active in the 1880s.
Located on a quiet parcel off Dulac Street, the cemetery once boasted a two-tiered fountain welcoming visitors. But it was taken down in 2000, after years of wear, and now only a concrete base is left.
The restoration effort would have used two basins and a pedestal donated by residents, who collectively contributed about $6,000, Gosselin said on Monday.
About $1,000 of that money went to sand blasting and painting the parts, leaving $5,000, she said.
“I don’t have the money to finish this last project,” she said. “If we can get the money for this project, I will finish this out and complete it. That’s my goal, to complete this one.”
Gosselin said there’s two things hampering the Glenwood project: its location tucked away from busy downtown and foundations cutting back on spending.
“It really saddens me, that I can’t finish this for the community,” she said. “It just would be an amazing finish.”
While both Peck and Gosselin have said they’re willing to continue working on the Glenwood fountain, it’s not yet clear how the Heritage Commission will handle the news. They postponed a conversation on the future of the Fountain Working Group until next month, according to Rebecca Owens, the city’s associate planner.
“… I believe there is a desire to continue it, or at least to complete the Glenwood fountain project,” she wrote in an email on Monday.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tca mera to@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.