Hamilton County to restore Fireman’s Fountain

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A longtime Chattanooga landmark will soon get a rehabilitation.The Fireman’s Fountain located across from the Hamilton County Courthouse will be restored by Hamilton County Parks and Recreation after receiving approval from the county commission.

The historic Fireman’s Fountain to be restored across from the Hamilton County Courthouse.

The fountain was built to honor two firemen, Henry Iler and W.M. Peak, who were killed in the “Bee Hive” fire on June 9th, 1887 in downtown Chattanooga.

It has since gone on to honor other firefighters who have died in the line of duty. 

It was recently announced the city of Chattanooga has transferred ownership of that fountain to the county so they can restore the fountain.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said, “I look out my window at it every day, and it’s got a great history. Fountain Square may be the most structurally intact part of our community. It’s one of those things where we got used to looking at this broken fountain.”

The fountain historically featured two alligators, but Mayor Wamp says they will not be bringing the reptiles back to that landmark.