The "Lancaster's First Public Drinking Fountain" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out an online story in the March 19, 1873 Lancaster Examiner & Herald.  The semi-weekly newspaper's story told of Lancaster's first public drinking fountain that was located in the center of Lancaster at the B. Frank Eshleman & Samuel F. Rathvon's Banking House that stood where the current Fulton Bank building is located on the north-east corner of Lancaster's Penn Square.  The custom-made fountain was made by the Robert Wood & Company from Philadelphia and was made from cast-iron which was bronzed.  The fountain was a 4 foot high ornamental pedestal topped with a golden ball which stood on a square base and supplied thirsty people with a drink of cool water.  The fountain also supplied two large pools of water that were used for watering patron's horses.  Lower on the fountain was a smaller basin that could be used by pets.  Must have been a sight to see with people, horses and dogs all drinking out of the fountain at the same time.  Mr. Eshelman and Mr. Rathvon were praised for erecting the first ever drinking fountain in front of their bank for all to use on hot days.  In order to use the fountain, there were tin cups hanging along the side that anyone could use to get a drink of water.  Not quite sure how sanitary that may have been for all who used the tin cups.  At the time, a story circulated that said one of the local brewers might run a pipe from his beer vault to the fountain the following Friday which was Election Day where one item being voted upon was the availability of alcohol to residents of Lancaster.  Seems it wasn't really true.   Messrs. Eshelman and Rathvon, out of curiosity, hired a person to report to the drinking fountain one morning at 7:00 AM and count how many people drank at the fountain until 7:00 PM.  The young man was busy all day taking a head count for by the end of the day he had counted 1,481 men, women and children who had taken a tin cup full of water from the fountain.  Not sure how many dogs and horses may have made a visit to the fountain also.  You may be aware that many schools in Lancaster County have recently removed their traditional push-button water fountains that have been in use for years for drinking in all buildings in each district.  How sanitary they might have been is now been being questioned due to the COVID-19 virus.  These traditional water fountains are now being replaced by no-touch dispensers that will fill a student's personal water bottle when held underneath it.  How different it is today as compared to the drinking fountain in Lancaster's Square in 1873.  Well, the residents of Lancaster who had a need to visit the city and were given a chance to drink from the first ever water fountain in front of the Eshelman & Rathvon's Banking House are thankful for the refreshment they had.  Also thankful were the many horses and small animals that also had a drink of the cold water on a hot day.  They will forever be part of the history of the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - I searched high and low for a photo or sketch of the fountain, but was unable to locate one.  Your imagination will have to on this story.