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    		• J. W. Fiske Iron Works,
     
  •  
    		• Figure female -- Full length
     
  •  
    		• Religion -- Angel
     
  •  
    		• Allegory -- Quality
     
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    		• Animal -- Lion
     
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    		• Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- St. Joseph
     
  •  
    		• Fountain
     
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    		• Sculpture
     
     
    Maids of the Mist, (sculpture).
    Artist: 
    J. W. Fiske Iron Works, founder.
    Title: 
    Maids of the Mist, (sculpture).
    Other Titles: 
    Stone Maidens, (sculpture).
    Constance and Hope, (sculpture).
    Dates: 
    1872 or 1873. Relocated, reinstalled, and dedicated 1892 (?). Rededicated July 4, 1974.
    Digital Reference: 
    Image Image Image Image
    Medium: 
    Fountain: metal, painted; Basin: concrete combined with stone; Fence: iron.
    Dimensions: 
    Fountain: approx. 25 ft. x 8 ft. 7 in. x 7 ft. 7 in.; Base: approx. H. 31 in. x W. 27 ft.; Fence: approx. H. 20 in.
    Inscription: 
    (Plaque on basin, incised letters:) MAIDS OF THE MIST/A FOUNTAIN PRESENTED TO THE/CITY OF ST. JOSEPH IN 1892/RESTORED AND DEDICATED JULY 4, 1974/BY THE CITY OF ST. JOSEPH AND/THE FORT MIAMI HERITAGE SOCIETY (On fence rim: framed, laminated newspaper article about the fountain) unsigned
    Description: 
    An ornate fountain composed of three pools, in ascending size from top to bottom. The top two pedestals each have 3 putti or cherubs around them. Water spouts from rosettes on the rim of the middle pool, and from lions' heads on the larger pool below it. On the bottom pedestal are two semi-nude females sitting in pensive poses, one with her proper left hand raised to her chin. The fountain sits in the center of a larger circular basin, which has a short fence atop its rim.
    Subject: 
    Figure female -- Full length
    Religion -- Angel
    Allegory -- Quality -- Hope
    Animal -- Lion
    Object Type: 
    Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- St. Joseph
    Fountain
    Sculpture
    Owner: 
    Administered by City of St. Joseph, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
    Located Lake Bluff Park, Corner of Ship Street & Lake Boulevard, St. Joseph, Michigan
    Provenance: 
    Formerly located Inter-State Industrial Exposition Building, Michigan Street & Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois 1873 until ca. 1892.
    Exhibitions: 
    World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893.
    Remarks: 
    The fountain was built in 1872 or 1873 by the J. W. Fiske Iron Works and cost $5,000. It was shipped to Chicago for the Inter-State Industrial Exposition in 1873 and sited in the Glass Palace. It may also have been exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. Sources disagree on dates, but sometime in the 1890s, the fountain was dismantled and moved to St. Joseph by H. E. Bucklen, then owner of the Whitcomb Hotel. Bucklen purchased the fountain for around $500.
    The fountain is popularly known as the "Stone Maidens" and fish and turtles were reportedly once in the basin. In the late 1930s, a local historian Calvin "Tad" Preston named the maids of the fountain "Constance" and "Hope." The fountain's current location is the historic site of old Fort Miami in Lake Bluff Park, also known as Lake Front Park.
    In May 1972, the fountain was dismantled for restoration by the City and the Fort Miami Heritage Foundation. Restoration was completed in 1974 and the fountain was rededicated on July 4, 1974. IAS files contain newsclipping from The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, MI), Sept. 27, 1973, which discusses the restoration. IAS files also contain excerpt from Kathryn Zerler's "On the Banks of Ole St. Joe," St. Joseph Today, pg. 145-147; "SculpTour" brochure from the Krasl Art Center; and newsclipping from The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, MI), which has a photo of the fountain from 1910. IAS files also contain photocopies of historic photographs of the fountain. For additional information see the New Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI), June 20, 1974.
    During 1998-1999 conservation treatment, the left foot of the east side maiden was recast by Robinson Iron Works (Alexander City, AL), recast from mold.
    Conservation: 
    Treated 1998-1999. City of St. Joseph Public Works (St. Joseph, MI). Treatment report on file with the Krasl Art Center (St. Joseph, MI).
    References: 
    Save Outdoor Sculpture, Michigan survey, 1993.
    SOS Conservation Notification Report, 2000.
    Illustration: 
    Image on file.
    The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, MI), Oct. 22, 1973.
    Note: 
    The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
    Repository: 
    Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
    Control Number: 
    IAS MI000393
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    Inventory of American SculptureMI000393Add Copy to MyList

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