Duke University Roney Fountain Relocation/Restoration

In 1901, Anne Roney, the sister-in-law of major Trinity College benefactor Washington Duke, donated a fountain that formed the focal point of the campus entry. Duke's namesake building, constructed in 1892 when Trinity College relocated to Durham, was the backdrop. The fountain featured elaborate naturalistic designs and two tiers of bowls with cascading water.

The setting changed dramatically in 1911 when the Washington Duke building burned to the ground. During rebuilding, the road leading into to what is now the East campus was shifted to the West and the fountain became a footnote, sitting off-axis near the new East Duke building, and no longer a focal point. Primary sources indicate that by the early 1930s the fountain was in disrepair. At that time a major effort removed some of the original metalwork components of the fountain, and created a water garden in the basin.

Over the years, the magnolia trees planted at the fountain continued to grow to nearly completely obscure the fountain. Water was stagnant and the basin in disrepair. Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans, granddaughter of Washington Duke, was alerted to the condition of the fountain at a family event and wrote to University Archivist Tim Pyatt for more information. Pyatt began gathering archival information on the fountain and consulted with Duke University's Facilities Management regarding upkeep, which led to the commission of a study on the feasibility and potential cost of restoration.

LAMBERT's study, led by Jennifer Plocher Wilkins, AIA, compiled the history of the fountain and discovered historical images from the J. L. Mott Ironworks catalogs that identified them as the likely manufacturer of the original fountain. Although no longer in business, Wilkins discovered that many of the original J. L. Mott molds, including ones likely used to create the original fountain elements, had been acquired by an active foundry, Robinson Iron of Alexander City, AL.

Over the years, though no longer the host to water plants, the fountain appeared to be in the same configuration as was reported after the 1930s "restoration." The basin remained intact, with rough-hewn granite capstones atop a severely deteriorated stuccoed masonry wall.

The remaining lower tier ironwork exhibited some rust, although not so severe as to compromise the intricate design of the lower tier, which featured water plants, topped with a band of egg-and-dart pattern, and acanthus leaves on the underside of the bowl. At the base, features such as frogs and the feet of the birds that originally ringed the base were still present. These unique features enabled Robinson Iron to confirm the origin of the ironwork.

After completion of the study, LAMBERT was commissioned to design the relocation of the fountain to the Sarah P Duke Gardens. The relocation fulfills the original Gardens' master plan which had always shown a fountain in the center of the rose garden, and returns the fountain to an axial focal point. Working with Robinson Iron to restore the fountain to its original state, LAMBERT brought this historic element back to life.

After a dedication ceremony in May, the fountain is now the most photographed element in the Sarah P Duke Gardens.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Duke
• Roney
• Fountain
• Restoration
• Relocation
• LAMBERT
• Architecture
• Design