The Historical Fountain
at Nevin Park

The double-tiered Hippocrene or “Horse Fountain” (pronounced Hippocr-e-ne’) depicted (on the lower tier) the four members of the family of the gold-winged, white steed Pegasos (Pegasus) and (on the upper tier) the three Muses or sister nymphs.

It was erected originally in 1870 in Center Square in downtown Easton, Pennsylvania and subsequently removed in 1899 to Nevin Park on College Hill.

The transference of this civic monument and potent symbol to College Hill was a highly meaningful act as well. As the home of Lafayette College, the Liberal Arts, and classical education, this would naturally become the sacred grove of the Muses.

After standing for over half a century, the cast-iron parts were dismantled and donated in the 1940’s for the patriotic scrap-metal drives of World War II, leaving only the circular concrete basin.

The design was designed by H. Howson of Philadelphia (Thomas Edison’s Patent Attorney and Frequent designer of Water Works in Philadelphia at that time) on the commission of David W. Nevin. It was “modeled after one now in one of the Squares in London.”

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