Should Bel Air’s fountain be replaced?

The cast-iron fountain in front of the Harford County Courthouse in downtown Bel Air has stopped flowing and is expected to stay dry all summer while town and county officials decide whether to repair or replace it.

What’s Happening: Bel Air Public Works staff found the fountain was not working during its seasonal startup this spring. The town hired a fountain repair company to inspect it. That inspection found the structure needs a new pump, new electrical infrastructure, repairs to its bowl, and a replacement fiberglass bottom.

What’s Important: The fountain sits on Harford County property and is considered a historic landmark. Bel Air officials said they will work with the county to weigh all options, including repair or full replacement.

By the Numbers: The fountain weighs 1,500 pounds and stands 6 feet tall. It was built and installed in 1982 at a cost of $26,000. Half came from community donations. Harford County covered the remaining $13,000.

Catch Up Quick: The fountain was built by the Robinson Iron Corporation of Alexander City, Alabama, and dedicated in August 1982. It was designed as a replica of an earlier fountain installed in front of the courthouse in 1904 in memory of Edwin Booth, a Harford County native and celebrated Shakespearean actor. Booth was also the older brother of John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Edwin Booth and his siblings grew up at Tudor Hall, a historic property just east of Bel Air. He died in New York City in 1893. The original Booth fountain, which also served as a horse drinking trough, was destroyed during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. The current fountain was built to serve the same dual purpose.

The Path Forward: Town officials said they are aware of community concern about the fountain’s condition and asked for patience while they work with county government toward a long-term solution.