The Algert Fountain

Memorial Fountain, Algert's Park, Watsontown PA

Henry Francis Algert [1843-1908]  was a well known resident of Watsontown, owning the  Watsontown Boot & Shoe Company, and being one of the  founders of the Watsontown Brick Company. 

He and his wife Luella [Sturges] Algert lived in a brick home at 19 E. Third Street.  This house still stands today.  

Henry F. Algert on the porch of his Watsontown home, with his granddaughter, Margaret Luella Hastings

In 1903  Henry and  Luella took a trip to Los Angeles to attend a General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.  On the way home, they visited several points of interest.  While in Chicago on June 24th, Mrs. Algert was "stricken with paralysis" [possibly a stroke?].  Once the doctors recommended she make the trip home, a  nurse accompanied the Algerts , and Mrs. Algert appeared to be handling the travel well.  When they reached the railroad station at Tyrone, she was lifted with her cot from the train car and placed in the  station room. From there she was to be taken to the Bald Eagle Valley train.  However, a few moments after being moved, Mrs. Luella Algert died.

Henry, grief stricken, created a park in a triangular piece of land across from his house.  It was called Algert Memorial Park.

It contained benches, rose bushes, and the fountain.

After Henry's death, the land  was sold, and a house soon replaced the park.  The fountain however, remained.

William Penn Hastings, age 4, posed in front of the fountain while dressed as Charlie Chaplain, during Watsontown's Old Home Week in 1915

The fountain was in Ruth Ritters yard at 20 East Third street for many years.  Ruth planted flowers around it, and decorated it.  

According to friends of the Ritter family, the fountain was damaged in 1949.  

The original top piece was replaced with a boy and girl holding an umbrella. 

In 2016, Ruth Ritter donated the fountain to the borough of Watsontown.  A dedication was held, at it's new location at the corner of Brimmer & Main streets, on May 20 2017.  The fountain was moved again, when the Historical Association purchased the Old Farmers Bank.  It now is located beside the WHA at 109 Main Street.

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Note - I do not know where Algert purchased the fountain, but the fountains in Bloomsburg were  all purchased from the Motts Iron Works Catalog - if I were to search, I'd start there.