This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Campaign to Replace Historic Biddle Fountain Underway

New fundraiser seeks to restore a piece of Port Jefferson village history.

The campaign to commemorate an historic Port Jefferson Landmark on the corner of East Main and Prospect Street has made a giant step forward. A foundry has been found in Saugerties, New York that will cast a close replica of the original three tiered Biddle Fountain.

At the turn of the last century, from 1898 – 1919, the "Biddle Fountain," named in honor of its donor, John Biddle, a summer resident, stood in front of the First Baptist Church on land that was once occupied by the Customs House and now is incorporated into the street. At that time, this corner was the center of all Village celebrations. It still is during the Annual Charles Dickens Festival.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last year under the leadership of the Northport based Island Christian Church. As some Port Jefferson residents saw the work being done, they envisioned the restoration of the fountain as well. The church agreed. Surrounded by gardens it will become a year round center once again.

Donations are needed now to help pay for it. The cost of the fountain is $4,500. The foundry will need three months to produce and ship it. We are still searching for the angel to top it. Later we will be seeking donations for the perennial garden to surround it. Maybe you have noticed the gardens and window boxes in front of the church already.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As the fountain will be surrounded by engraved granite markers, we are especially looking for families with deep roots in Port Jefferson history to commemorate their family by "purchasing" one of these stones with their name on it for $500. Maybe you don’t have "deep roots," the offer to memorialize your family still stands.

Any size donation is welcome. All donations, if made out to , are tax-deductible. Checks can be mailed to Pastor Pete Jansson, Island Christian Church, P.O. Box 525, Port Jefferson, NY 11777. Put Biddle Fountain on the Memo line and you are assured that your money goes into a restricted grant for the project.

Or you can give your donation to Village Historian Ken Brady in the Archive Room at the Village Center. Contact: historian@portjeff.com.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?