The Corning Fountain
The picture of the amazing fountain that you see is one of the most visited attractions in Bushnell Park, Hartford, Connecticut this is the Corning Fountain. The Corning Fountain was built during 1899 and it was given by John Corning. John Corning presented this amazing water fountain as a tribute to his father John Benton Corning; his father was a Hartford businessman, and is operating a grist mill on that very site.
The Corning Fountain is a two – tiered fountain, and its design was made by a brilliant sculptor named J. Massey Rhind. The Corning Fountain is a 28 ft tall structure that is made up of bronze and granite. The stylized features of the Corning Fountain are the Saukiog and the Oneida Indians which are the first inhabitants of the place, and it is toppled with the stag feature which is also symbolizes Hartford’s emblem.
The Corning Fountain’s features have four Saukiog braves around the lower basin of the Corning Fountain; the central pedestal of the fountain is surrounded by four bronze Oneida maidens and on top of the fountains basin is a bronze stag or hart. The Corning Fountain’s four Saukiog braves has distinctive features from each other, the figure in the west side holds a spear, the south side is wearing a feathered headdress and scanning the horizon, the east side is raising a tomahawk, and in the north side is holding a peace pipe and is lifting a hand as a gesture of peace.
Below the upper basin of the Corning Fountain are four heads of animals where the water spouts, these are the heads of catamount, bear, fox, and a beaver. Also in the lower basin of the Corning Fountain are four lion’s head where water spouts as well. These are the amazing views that the Corning Fountain offers.