Tuesday, January 18, 2000
Fountain's first piece is in place
Pedestal swung over from workshop
BY JEFF CARLTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Workers lower fountain pedestal onto base.
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The bronze pedestal of Cincinnati's landmark Tyler Davidson Fountain was swung back into place Monday night as crews battled frigid temperatures, snow and some stubborn bolts.
Shortly after 10 p.m., operators of a 500-ton crane lifted the 16,000-pound piece from a glass structure where it was renovated. After lingering overhead for a few minutes, it was swung onto its granite base 60 feet away.
Crane operators had to lift the roof of the glass structure that housed the pedestal during renovation of the fountain, but a few stray bolts couldn't be dislodged, delaying the movement for a couple of hours.
Those involved in the renovation were upbeat as the first piece of the 129-year-old fountain was ready to resume its place as a focal point of Fountain Square. It's a renovation that should last a lifetime, they say.
“This whole project is done with the emphasis on the next 100 years,” said Willie Carden, city facilities manager.
Miriam Tuchman, a senior architect with the city, came on her day off to watch the evening maneuvers.
“I think it's a significant reinvestment in our architectural icons,” she said. “Stripping off all that ... to reveal the craftsmanship underneath, it's just a beautiful thing.”
McKay Lodge Inc., a conservation laboratory from Oberlin, Ohio, cleaned layers of green paint, which revealed the original bronze, said conservator Tom Podnar. The lab applied a chemical solution that gave it a dark brown coloring that matched the original, then put on a layer of wax to protect it from weather.
“This sculpture was completely finished by hand, and rubbed with files and chisels,” Mr. Podnar said of the original craftsmen. “The fellas did so much work on this, you have no idea.”
Earlier Monday, Cincinnati police closed the intersection of Fifth and Vine streets as construction workers readied the 500-ton crane.
City architect Joel Koopman fretted over several little girls skating on the adjacent ice rink.
“We've got to worry about safety first,” Mr. Koopman said. “I think we're going to have to kick people off the rink.”
Mr. Koopman said the project's next step is to restore the concrete basin in which the fountain sits. The project is on schedule to be completed in time for the Reds' Opening Day on April 3.
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