September 12th, 2013
Discover Rehoboth Beach, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Fountain, Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, National Register of Historic Places, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware
A drinking fountain is a drinking fountain. What’s the big deal? I bet you are thinking, this post is going nowhere. Give me a chance, will you?
You have probably passed this drinking fountain on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk hundreds of times. You might have even taken a sip out of it on one of those Southern Delaware hot days.
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Fountain is a historic “temperance” drinking fountain. This is its story:
Muddied and ill-tasting drinking water encouraged many Americans to drink alcohol for health purposes, so temperance groups, which were private benefactors, constructed public drinking fountains throughout the United States following the Civil War.
The National Woman’s Christian Temperace Union’s organizing convention of 1874 strongly encouraged its attendees to erect these public temperance fountains as a mean to discourage males from entering drinking establishments for refreshments.
Beer was the main alternative to water. It was safer.
In 1929 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Delaware branch organization, the Rehoboth Beach “temperance” drinking fountain was constructed out of granite, measuring 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. In 1977 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
So, the next time you are walking on Rehoboth Beach’s award winning Boardwalk, enjoying your Boardwalk grub….check it out and if you are thirsty you know what to do.
Have a good one!
Note: Some information was taken from Wikipedia.
Tags: Delaware, Delaware Beaches, Discover Southern Delaware, Drinking Fountain in Rehoboth Beach, rehoboth beach, Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, Southern Delaware, Sussex County, Visit Rehoboth Beach, Visit the Delaware Beaches, Woman's Christian Temperance Union Fountain
Great info!! Thanks!! I Had no idea!! And never even noticed.. I will now!!!