OOS Sculpture

Hebe, Nymph of Streams and Brooks

1890 / Bertel Thorvaldsen / Hamilton

Hebe photo1.jpeg

This fountain was originally presented as a gift to the city of Hamilton in 1890 by the First National Bank and was placed by the bank's entrance on High Street. It is a replica of a design by Danish sculptor Bertold Thervoldsen and depicts the nymph Hebe from Greek mythology (holding a pitcher in her proper right hand at her side and drinking cup in her outstretched proper left hand). It was manufactured by J.L. Mott Iron Works (NY).

The fountain was removed ca. 1928 due to the construction of the bank's new building and remained at a private residence until 1976, when the bank had it restored by Hamilton Foundry and installed it once again on High Street.

In 2012, the fountain was moved to a newly-built pocket park on the northwest corner of High Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

The fountain was damaged in October 2018 when it was hit by a car and was subsequently repaired by Robinson Iron in Alabama and returned to its home in the pocket park in 2019. The mural "Incrementum," by local artist Paul Loehle, was created on the wall behind the fountain and features images of the statue of Hebe.

Location: 358 High St

County

: Butler

Citation

: Bertel Thorvaldsen, “Hebe, Nymph of Streams and Brooks,” Ohio Outdoor Sculpture , accessed September 27, 2023, https://oos.sculpturecenter.org/index.php/items/show/2235.

Title

Hebe, Nymph of Streams and Brooks

Description

This fountain was originally presented as a gift to the city of Hamilton in 1890 by the First National Bank and was placed by the bank's entrance on High Street. It is a replica of a design by Danish sculptor Bertold Thervoldsen and depicts the nymph Hebe from Greek mythology (holding a pitcher in her proper right hand at her side and drinking cup in her outstretched proper left hand). It was manufactured by J.L. Mott Iron Works (NY).

The fountain was removed ca. 1928 due to the construction of the bank's new building and remained at a private residence until 1976, when the bank had it restored by Hamilton Foundry and installed it once again on High Street.

In 2012, the fountain was moved to a newly-built pocket park on the northwest corner of High Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

The fountain was damaged in October 2018 when it was hit by a car and was subsequently repaired by Robinson Iron in Alabama and returned to its home in the pocket park in 2019. The mural "Incrementum," by local artist Paul Loehle, was created on the wall behind the fountain and features images of the statue of Hebe.

Date

1890

Source

Jones, R. (2013, September 15). Hamilton's very own Fountain Square. Journal-News.
Rutledge, M. (2019, June 3). A 129-year-old icon will return to its Hamilton home this month. Journal-News.

Publisher

Ohio Outdoor Sculpture

Type

Identifier

2235

Location City

Location County

Location Notes

NW corner of High St & MLK Jr Blvd

Provider Qualifier

Gift of

Provider Entity

First National Bank

Location Street

358 High St

Location Type

Media Sculpture Height

5 feet

Materials

Condition Rating

good