Hartford, Memorial Arch and Corning Fountain
Once in awhile (try and stop us) we’ll tell you about what’s in the picture. In this case, Hartford’s Bushnell Park has its Corning Fountain: “… installed in the park in 1899 by John J. Corning as a tribute to his father, John B. Corning (note: no relation to the Corning Glass company). John B. … owned a dry goods store and auction house on Main Street and, like his father and grandfather, was a church deacon. John J. was a successful broker in New York who retained his love for his hometown of Hartford. The fountain’s location was chosen as part of a grand entranceway to the park and the State Capitol grounds for visitors arriving to Hartford via the train station. The 30-foot-tall fountain is made of marble and stone and is topped with the figure of a stag (or “hart,” for Hartford) and four native maidens surrounded by corn stalks, representing Hartford’s agricultural history.” We thank the Bushnell Park Foundation for that, and now tell you this old card (early 1900s) is unused. Grade: 1