Center Harbor Fountain
 

Does anyone know the history or meaning behind the fountain in Center Harbor for "Dumb Animals"? It seems more than a bit odd.

It was donated by the Dane family, many years back. The same Danes that route 25B was renamed to thanks to E911. The Danes owned vast amounts of Center Harbor in the earlier days. Both sides of Rt 25 from Canoe to the Meredith line (with a few exceptions). Also owned from the top of 25B down, both sides down to College Road. They also owned most of Red Hill before the LRCT got their hands on it. (etc, etc)

Anyway, I'm not sure where the 'dumb animals' phrase came from, but I did run across an article... somewhere....hmmm

For Dumb Animals
 

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...rfountain2.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...orfountain.jpg

From CENTER HARBOR MEMORIES

Any old-timers on board here remember the school text "Dumb animals and how to treat them; a text book for use in the public schools." Written in c.1909, by Edwin Kirby Whitehead (1861-?).

"Dumb"
 

I believe the context is "dumb" as in "unable to speak".. I think it refers to the need to be kind to, and speak for, animals who cannot do so for themselves...

I always thought it was...
 

a sculpture of "Leda and the Swan" a motif from Greek mythology, in which Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan.

From the book refereced by Les (above):

An animal is any living creature which can feel pain and
pleasure. All animals except men are called dumb animals be-
cause man alone has the power of articulate speech. Dumb ani-
mals can utter .sounds and cries of many kinds but not articu-
late or joined-together sounds. Beasts are the same as dumb
animals. Brutes is also only another name for dumb animals.
Dumb animals are also called the lower animals because they
are generally lower than man in intelligence and were once sup-
posed to be lower than man in all ways.

The entire text of the book can be found HERE.

not four legged
 

There is also one for "DUMB DAVE CLARK FIVE" IN Plastow
and "DUMB PAUL REVER AND THE RAIDERS " IN Hanover
and " DUMB BLONDIE" IN "oh I forget"

These people just hated rock bands!



How about all the bands that use to play out on the pier every night during the summer.(REMEMBER!)

:laugh: RPM - you funnnnnnnn-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!:laugh:

The pound for animals in that area was up over the hill on 25-B on the left.


The stone walls, gate and sign are still there if you go slow enough and are looking for it. I suspect the fountain was put there so the animals could be watered before being marched up over the hill to the town pound.