Largesse of the type shown by the donation of this fountain was not uncommon in Yarmouth early on, with many of the wealthiest families making donations of one sort or another to the town. This was the first fountain donated, with the second being donated two years later and a third just two weeks after that.
This fountain was donated by Clara Killam who, after the death of her father, Samuel Killam, was left one of the town’s wealthiest citizens. She was quite generous with her wealth, donating to many worthy organizations, including Mountain Cemetery and Yarmouth Hospital.
Unveiled on 20th May, 1893, the golden horse atop has given the fountain its name. Made of cast iron with the golden bronze horse atop, the fountain, cast by M.D. Jones & Co. of Boston, MA, stands atop a granite pedestal. Originally made with drinking cups hung on hangers, the fountain was intended as a drinking fountain for passers by.
A bit of a problem with the fountain came to pass with the advent of the automobile, when less than totally attentive drivers tended to occasionally come a little too close to the fountain. As a result a median was installed to protect the fountain many years ago. However, with increasing traffic and increasingly large trucks using the roads, the fountain has again caused consternation among city council. A news article on the situation appeared in the Yarmouth County Vanguard awhile back, which is reproduced in part below.
Horse fountain staying put but are changes needed at Vancouver Street intersection in Yarmouth?
YARMOUTH – The town says it has no plans to move the Milton horse fountain, but some around the council table are wondering whether other changes are required at the so-called five corners intersection in the north part of town.
Tina Comeau | May 18, 2015
A motion was passed at council’s May 14 meeting to have town staff examine the intersection at Vancouver, Water and Main streets to see if changes are needed to make things easier for traffic.
One option that will be looked at is whether Water Street can be widened for trucks turning right onto the foot of Vancouver Street. It was stated that it is a very difficult turn for large trucks to maneuver and it was suggested that perhaps giving truckers an extra 10 feet where green space now exists could help their situation.
Another issue that will be looked at is the median. Should it stay? Go? Be cut back?...
...Town CAO Jeff Gushue said the median was put in to help regulate the flow of traffic at this “awkward” intersection. He said while the median probably does create an “irritation,” this is balanced out by the fact that it does help to control the traffic flow.
Councillor Sandy Dennis doesn’t want to see council rushing into a decision. “I don’t want to see us wasting tax dollars on putting it in, taking it out and then having a problem again. So I really want a good study done on this before we make any decision,” she said.
Mayor Pam Mood, meanwhile, thinks the median serves a purpose, saying before its presence the intersection was a “tangled mess.”
From the Yarmouth County Vanguard