Harry Caswell to fix Rehoboth’s historic water fountain

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union water fountain on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach could be fixed by the end of the year.

Standing 6-feet-6-inches tall and 3-feet wide, with a spigot mounted on a white-marble slab spanned by a granite arch, the water fountain was installed by the woman’s group in 1929. The Cape Gazette first reported a few weeks ago the city had no plans to fix the historic water fountain because it would be too costly. The fountain is one of two sites in the city on the National Register of Historic Places. The other is All Saints' Episcopal Church, which was built in 1893.

City Manager Laurence Christian announced during a commissioner meeting Oct. 20 that local plumbing contractor Harry Caswell will fix the water fountain at no cost to the city.

In an interview Oct. 23, company owner Harry Caswell confirmed his company is fixing the water fountain. He said his crew has already looked at the water fountain, which is currently wrapped in a gray tarp and duct tape.

Opinions vary, said Public Works Director Kevin Williams, but most people think the water fountain hasn’t worked in at least eight years.

In addition to the fountain not working, a historical marker from the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs explaining the significance of the water fountain has also fallen off its post. The city said it fell off during a recent storm.

Caswell said he had reached out to the city in the past about fixing the water fountain, but he was met with little interest. He decided to reach out again after the water fountain was back in the news. This time the city was in favor of it being fixed, he said.

The base of the water fountain is full of concrete, so it took a little bit to clean out the interior plumbing, said Caswell. It was definitely put in there to stay, he said, laughing.

Caswell estimated the parts to fix the water fountain will take four to six weeks to be ready. At that point, if things go as planned, it will be installed, he said.

During the commissioner meeting, Commissioner Toni Sharp encouraged the city manager to ensure the water fountain continues to work after it’s fixed. The sign should also be put back up, she said. 

Terracotta fountain

During the Oct. 20 meeting, city commissioners signed a memorandum of understanding with the group responsible for the creation of the Garden of the Navigators in Cranberry Park to install a terracotta fountain made by an Italian artist from Rehoboth’s sister city Greve-in-Chianti.

As part of the MOU, the organization will pay for all costs associated with installation of the fountain – estimated to be at least $10,000 – and the city will maintain it into the future.

During a commissioner workshop the week before, former city Commissioner Pat Coluzzi, a key player in getting the fountain to Rehoboth, suggested the city and the organization split the cost of installation. However, she said during the Oct. 20 meeting, they decided to pay for it all.

The fountain is at the city’s streets department building. Coluzzi isn’t 100% positive when the fountain will be installed, but she said she hopes soon. That way it’s in place for the 500-year anniversary of Greve-in-Chianti in April, she said.