Sussex Borough Councilman looks to restore fountains

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Councilman and Local Sussex Borough Historian Mario Poggi is working to bring one of the three identical fountains out of storage.

The Walling Avenue fountain was removed in 2009 when the Route 23 car dealership expanded. Right now, it rests at the Sussex Borough Garage and is missing its column.

Poggi would also like to make the fountain functional again with a solar powered water pump and add solar-powered lights like the originals.

Fountain historySussex Borough's first landmark fountain sits in Fountain Square and was donated by John S. Martin in 1902.

In the same year, local businessman Thomas Jefferson Dunn donated Sussex Borough's second fountain on Munson Street. Its column also has been misplaced.

The third fountain also was donated by T.J. Dunn in 1906 on Walling Avenue. Dunn's two fountains were designed to look like the Martin Fountain. All three fountains watered both travelers' horses and neighborhood dogs.

Council makes historyThe Borough Council on April 21 agreed to vote on a resolution to put the second Dunn fountain in the Walling Avenue parking lot. The council also agreed to resolve possibly losing revenue from the current parking lot and research gas line locations.

Poggi said he would like to research the cost of a new column with the cap, similar to the actual fountain picked by the Council in the early 1900s. He also would like the community to be part of the project by contributing goods and services, including plumbing and electricity. His goal is that the restored fountain would not cost the borough any money.

Councilwoman Annette Stendor asked about the cost and encouraged fundraisers. She said it is a great idea, and she gave Poggi a lot of credit for being involved.

Councilwoman Katherine Little said that she appreciated Poggi's enthusiasm for trying to rebuild Sussex Borough.

Poggi said, “This is just the beginning.”