Friends of the Salem Public Library Fountain

02/01/2021

Progress continues to be made on the plans to restore the Poseidon fountain. Specifics of how the restoration will go and by whom are in the works. Here is a photo of the fountain and water flow the way it looked sometime after 1933. Hopefully we will get it back to looking this good soon. Oh, and by the way, contributions continue to be welcomed. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

01/26/2021

An important message for all from Senator Bernie Sanders...

01/08/2021

Please be aware that the fountain restoration project is ongoing. As work continues to define exactly what needs to be done and who is best qualified to do it the main priority continues to be fundraising. Unfortunately Poseidon isn't expecting a stimulus check. Please remember that you can contribute online via a link on the Salem Public Library website. Also please make your Amazon purchases through the smile.amazon.com portal naming the Salem Public Library Trustees as the non-profit to receive the Amazon donations.

Thank you!

10/13/2020

Hello all! Apologies for not posting more lately. A reminder: with Amazon Days upon us please purchase through smile.amazon.com with Trustees of the Salem Public Library as the tax-free beneficiary. Although efforts to restore the fountain have come to a temporary halt the fund-raising efforts continue unabated (hopefully). We appreciate the help! Fountain restoration funds are now over $130,000 but we need much more.

07/28/2020

Fountain restoration update: despite time and effort redirected due to Covid-19 we have still raised over $128,000 towards the restoration project to date. Thank you to all who have helped. Reminder to make Amazon purchases through the smile.amazon.com portal and select Trustees of Salem Public Library as the non-profit beneficiary. Be well, all.

05/13/2020

Hello friends. We hope everyone is safe, well, and keeping busy. The Library's application for a CPA grant was reviewed last night and while the Commission praised the work done so far the application was turned down for this funding round. Under the current situation what funding is available is needed for more urgent projects. We need to continue to raise funds and awareness and to keep up the work to eventually get the fountain restored. Work will continue on planning, consulting, and putting together a comprehensive project package so we can ultimately enjoy a beautifully restored fountain. Be well!

04/11/2020

Hello friends, sorry for the delay in posting but Poseidon is still self-isolating under his white plastic tent. Update: the deadline for the Community Preservation Act grant application has been pushed back. Anyone who wants to write a letter has until April 27th to submit it to the library for inclusion. With the library being closed the mail is not being collected so your letter will have to be e-mailed, preferably as a pdf file. Anyone who wants to submit a letter of support please private message this page and I will provide an e-mail address to which the letter can be submitted.

Thank you again for your support.

03/16/2020

Hello Friends, if you find yourselves shopping more online (and who these days isn't?) please remember that if you log in to smile.amazon.com you will get the same selection, the same pricing, but a percentage of the profits from the sale can be donated to help the Save the Fountain Fund. If you haven't already just select Trustees of the Salem Massachusetts Public Library as the non-profit recipient of choice. We appreciate the help!

03/09/2020

Cranney Home Services is still sponsoring a drawing every month to choose a charity or non-profit that will receive a $1,000 donation. January's winner was Friends of the Sawyer Free Library. Let's see if the Friends of Salem Public Library can pick up a donation. You can fill out a nominating form at: https://cranneyhomeservices.com/cranney-cares-community/

02/21/2020

Local artist Racket Shreve produced a watercolor of Poseidon which he kindly donated to the cause. Any ideas on creative ways in which we could use this image to raise some fountain money?

02/20/2020

WBZ radio recently did a segment on the Library, fountain and efforts to raise the money to restore the fountain. Check out the audio clip with commentary from Library Director Tara Mansfield:

02/05/2020

Poseidon in the news...
Wicked Local Salem has written and published an article on the Poseidon fountain and the Friends' efforts to repair and restore it. Please see the article here:

The corrosive state of Salem Public Library’s Poseidon Fountain prompts a $250,000 capital campaign.