Make A Wish At This Delightfully Quirky Fountain That Features 18 Dogs In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published September 26, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Close your eyes and make a wish. That’s something I used to tell myself when tossing a coin into Fountain Square. My grandma had a plastic baggie filled with spare change, and as a kid we’d go downtown and always, always stop by the The Genius of Water to make a wish. Wishing fountains seem to be in short supply nowadays, and whether or not you’re actually throwing a coin into the water (which, depending on what fountain you visit, might be frowned upon), the idea of pausing and conjuring up a positive thought seems as necessary as ever. In Mt. Vernon, Ohio, there is a public fountain where it’s pretty much impossible *not* to pause (or paws?) and think about a wish or two: the South Main Plaza, AKA the Mt. Vernon Dog Fountain, is a quirky attraction that’s, well, doggone delightful.
Public fountains are a common part of many a small town and big city center. They serve as beautiful works of art around which folks naturally gather; they also often provide the perfect setting for community events and festivals.
The town of Mount Vernon, Ohio, is no different. In addition to the historic Cooper Fountain (pictured above), the town is home to another fountain that's quite literally a horse -- or dog? -- of a different color.
Inspired by world-renowned landscape architect Claude Cormier’s fountain in Toronto’s Berczy Park, the fountain at South Main Plaza features painted cast aluminum sculptures of 18 dogs, one cat, two pairs of birds, a pony, and an apple (but of course).
Some might wonder why. Why create a dog fountain in the middle of a small town in America's heartland? To those folks, I simply say, "why not?" What could be more fun that a fountain full of spraying, smiling pups?
If, on the off chance you happen upon this doggy fountain when it's turned off, that's okay -- it's still a doggone delightful piece of public art to witness...
Have you visited this quirky fountain in Ohio before? Did you know about this pup-tastic public fountain in Mt. Vernon? The fountain at South Main Plaza might be my all-time favorite roadside attraction in Ohio… and that’s saying something, as our state is filled with wonderfully weird attractions!
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