The W.C.T.U. Drinking Fountain in Watsontown

The Dedication of the Watsontown  Women's Christian Temperance Union 
Water Fountain, In Memory Of Mrs. Elizabeth Follmer

September 26, 1903

 W.C.T.U. was a group of Christian women "banded together for the protection of home, the abolition of liquor traffic, and the triumph of Christ's Golden Rule in custom and in law."  Women, who had limited rights and resources at this time, were left to the mercy of fathers and husbands who too frequently drank away their paychecks, lost their employment, and became unreliable, even violent.  The belief was that many of societies problems at the time could be cured by the elimination of alcohol.

Local Temperance Unions, including those in  Lewisburg, Milton and Watsontown   were extremely active, hosting speakers at Minerval Hall, and Riverside Park, establishing a reading room and headquarters, sponsoring essay contests in the local schools,  and working towards constitutional amendments.   (The first Prohibition Party Candidate to run for president was from Lewisburg Pa)

 

In the 1800s, access to clean drinking water was extremely limited. It was often safer to drink beer, than the local water. In 1874, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union announced a call to action, imploring their supporters to erect free, clean drinking fountains.   The idea was, that if there was clean, free water available, those looking to quench their thirst wouldn’t need to enter bars to do so.  Fountains began to appear in towns and cities across the nation, including in our area.   . The Sunbury W.C.T.U installed their fountain in the summer of 1897, and Milton in the fall of that same year.  The Danville chapter installed their fountain in July of 1900

In June of 1902, Mrs. Elizabeth Follmer, President of the Watsontown W.C.T.U. for the past number of years, died.  The following year, her son C.C. Follmer sponsered the Watsontown W.C.T.U. fountain, dedicating it to the memory of his mother.  

Watsontown Fountain Dedication Ceremony

Sept 26, 1903

A dedication ceremony was held to unveil the Water Fountain and Urn in front of the late home of Mrs. Elizabeth Follmer, on North Front Street.  The local papers reported that more than a thousand people were there to witness the ceremony.

The Program Was As Follows:

Music by the Watsontown Band

Invocation, Rev. E. M. Beck

Music - Saloons Must Go, public schools

Presentation of the Monument to the W.C.T.U.

A Brief Address by Major J. M. Caldwell

Music - Weart The White Ribbon, Mrs Blanch Robbins

Rev. W. K. Foster, Presentation of the fountain to the borough, from the W.C.T.U.

Unveiling of the Fountain, by Frances Wagner (grandaughter of Mrs Follmer)

Acceptance on behalf of the borough, William. F. Shay

Music - America, Watsontown Band

Benediction by Rev. M. Walker

If you look to the left in this photo, following the line of the sidewalk, you can see the fountain is installed on the left.

The fountain was installed at 305 Main street, where it stood for some time before being moved to the Watsontown Park, where it was destroyed by vandals.

The fountain was partially repaired, and somehow made it's way to Portland Oregon, where it stands outside of the SPCA.  You can just see the bottom of it, behind the tree, in this image from google maps.

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Presidents of the Watsontown W.C.T.U. included  Mrs. Dr. Jos. Hunger, Mrs Elizabeth Follmer, and Mrs Dr. J.R. Housel.    While Mrs Follmer was president, she conceived the idea of donating a water fountain to the borough of Watsontown. 

   In 1894,  the Watsontown W.C.T.U.  advocated for the Suffrage Movement, as part of the Home Protection movement.

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Find More Of Watsontown's History Here
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/watsontown-pa.html

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Read More

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From The Anniversary Edition Of The Watsontown Starr & Record

Miss Rhoda Caldwell, Sec'y

The Watsontown Women's Christian Temperance Union is an organization of Christian women banded together for the protection of home, the abolition of liquor traffic, and the triumph of Christ's Golden Rule in custom and in law.

Organized December 12, 1884 by Miss Grace Weiser

Presidents of the Society included Mrs. Dr. Jos. Hunger, Mrs Elizabeth Follmer, and Mrs Dr. J.R. Housel

First temperance sermon was by Dr Hare of Bucknell, in the Baptist Church

First Union Temperance Rally was held in 1885 at the Presbyterian Church

Mr Alexander came to Watsontown and spoke for about 10 days.  He drew crowds every night in the old Minerva Hall, many signed the pledge, and the Union was greatly encouraged.

For 12 years, The Union kept a reading room, and later headquarters, for the members

Twice the society worked for an amendment to the constitution

The headquarters of the society was destroyed by fire in 1888, and the YMCA room was occupied for a short time.

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July 1903

July 1903

 March 1903

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Obituary of Elizabeth Follmer

The Miltonian, June 1902

Photo from  the collection of Mr  William F. Kear .

The handwritten inscription on the back reads:

 The handwritten notation on the back reads “Dedication of fountain to Great Grandmother Elizabeth Hayes Chamberlain Follmer in front of her home [305 Main St] (later Uncle Jay and Aunt Bessie’s — Sept 26, 1903. This fountain later was moved to the Watsontown Park.

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