Through a donation from the National Humane Alliance, founded by Hermon Lee Ensign, a philanthropist and animal advocate, El Paso received an animal watering fountain in 1909. ⛲️ This was one of around 100 fountains donated across the country, free of charge as long as the city requesting the fountain provided an appropriate site, water supply, and maintenance. The fountains had a main bowl, intended for horses, and on its lower portion, ground level drinking bowls for dogs, cats, and other small animals. 🐕🐈
Most of the fountains have been removed from their original sites, usually in the center of busy intersections, but at least 70 of them are still publicly viewable.
El Paso’s Fountain still stands where it was originally installed in the heart of downtown, but doesn’t seem to be in use any longer.
Picture 2- A National Humane Alliance Fountain in use, located in Dallas, TX.
#elpasohistory #downtownelpaso#nationalhumanealliance #eptx
