Herschel Park, Elliott: 748 Herschel Street
Have you ever burst out in tears for no apparent reason, finding yourself in a deep sadness? Some would say it’s the soft voice of the soul crying out for attention, unlocked by an unexpected encounter. And so I sit on a bench at the Herschel Park playground and reflect on my unanticipated emotional response to taking a photo of a very humble and mundane object: an old water fountain.
While not every city park offers this amenity, many do. Some are modern and have the necessary plumbing; others, like the one that brought on tears, do not. I sit and study the image of the cylindrical and carved concrete structure and imagine it was installed in the 1970s. The name Herschel Park has been used for several decades, but this spot was initially known as Sophia Evert No. 2., the result of philanthropy from Sophia’s children to the city in the 1930s.
Regardless of its origin, this one functional and crispy-designed fountain sits idle, and another slice of time slips into oblivion. Is that what stirs up melancholy? Perhaps. I will ponder this one some more.
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