OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — Washington Square Mall was the the first enclosed shopping center in Indiana, and at its center, shoppers often made wishes at a water fountain. It was drained 5 years ago, and ERA First Advantage Realty says they’re taking the lead on a fundraiser to bring it back to life.
Kristina Rhodes and Julie Vandeveer say they were working on a project with Evansville Rescue Mission’s Thrift Store and developed a routine of chatting by the mall’s fountain. They soon stumbled into conversations with shoppers that reminded them of what it would mean to get water flowing through its pipes again.
“It is apparent that the people that come out here really, really miss the fountain. If you lived in our area, for any length of time, this fountain is a part of your childhood memories,” says Rhodes.
“People that are in here walking would say, ‘are you working on the fountain?’ Shopping, as a little one, we’d always get to stop at the fountain for our change. It was kind of the reward if we were good,” says Vandeveer.