Why was the original Electric Fountain torn down? Couldnt it be repaired?
The interior of the 1908 fountain vault had been flooded several times. There was significant biological growth (algae, mold, etc.) inside the vault. The walls and ceiling of the vault leaked and the floor drain was not fully functional. All of the electrical equipment was ruined by the floods, the valves were rusted in position and much of the plumbing on the fountain deck was rusted or missing. Engineering studies were done in 2005 to determine the condition of the concrete foundation and walls of the 1908 fountain vault. It was determined that repairing the original vault would be very expensive and not last more than 15 years. The decision to tear down the old fountain and build a new one was an economic one based on cost versus lifetime.
