Thursday, May 24, 2012

Venus Rising Again

At Wednesday night's meeting of the Common Council Public Works Committee, DPW Superintendent Rob Perry reported on the possibility of restoring Venus and the fountain in Seventh Street Park. Tom Casey has the story in today's Register-Star: "Is there hope that Venus will return to fountain?" There seems to be some thought that Venus might be restored to the fountain without reproducing the pedestal on which the statue originally stood, but that seems unimaginable.
 

2 comments:

  1. Lets get past all the negatives against this and seek the positives to "make it happen."

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  2. Hudson Gazette,
    dated August 2, 1883,
    HUDSON PUBLIC FOUNTAIN (excerpt)
    Now that the beautiful fountain in the public
    park is nearly completed and our citizens have
    enjoyed the sight of “Venus Rising From The
    Sea,” exhibiting in the most effective manner
    the power of our water supply, and proving
    that it can be put to ornamental as well as useful purposes, it is proper to speak in detail of this work of art, and award credit to those who were chiefly instrumental in procuring it.

    The total height of the fountain, including
    the foundation is eighteen feet. The pan is gargoyle octagon, eight feet five inches above the base, diameter of pan, eight feet eleven inches.
    The ground basin is twenty-five feet in diameter.
    The foundation is of Coral Marble, handsomely
    cut, from the quarries of Supervisor
    Fred W. Jones, and was donated by that energetic and public-spirited gentleman. The foundation is capped by a fine slab of Vermont marble,which was generously donated by Mr.
    Patrick Hoctor, of the Hudson Granite and
    Marble Works.
    From this rises the base surmounted by the
    figures all in graceful proportion and artistic
    design. But to be fully appreciated, it must be
    seen when the water in full force is playing
    through its numerous jets and rising and
    falling in fantastic forms.

    Mr. D. Martin Haviland is entitled to much
    credit for his persevering efforts in securing to the city not only this beautiful fountain, but
    also the handsome park in which it is located.
    One of the most unsightly spots in the city
    has within a few years been converted into one
    of the most attractive. In this enterprise Mr.
    Haviland’s efforts have been generously seconded
    by the Boston and Albany Railroad
    Company, by the action of our Common
    Council, by the contributions of citizens and by the local press.

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