Fountain facelift could come with cyclone centennial
Regina's historic Davin Fountain, languishing in disrepair in city storage, could be refurbished as part of a 100th anniversary of the 1912 tornado that killed 28 people in the city.
City officials have recommended the city apply to Heritage Canada for funds to restore the fountain, funds that would come in conjunction with the 100th commemoration of the deadly cyclone that swept through Regina on June 30th, 1912 and levelled several city blocks leaving 28 people dead and 2,400 homeless.
The elegant cast iron Davin Fountain, named after MP Nicholas Flood Davin the founder of the Regina Leader newspaper, was installed in the centre of Victoria Park in 1909. It survived the 1912 tornado that brought winds of up to 300 km/h through the west side of the park.
In 1925 the fountain, with its four white herons, was moved to make room for the Cenotaph.
After years in storage, it was eventually moved to Rotary Park in 1939.
It was moved out of Rotary Park in 2004 and placed in storage at a city yard at 7th Avenue and Toronto Street.
Local historians have been lobbying to have the fountain restored and placed in front of city hall or back in Victoria Park.
