ORLEANS – The historic and fully restored town fountain will return to Historic Congress Square in downtown Orleans this spring, according to Orleans Town officials. The fountain donated to the town in 2001 by the Karl Hall Family will return in completely restored fashion for the upcoming Dogwood Festival in late April and the local celebration of the nation’s semi-quincentennial, according to Orleans Clerk Robert Henderson.
The large cast-iron fountain was disassembled in 2025 and shipped to the Smock Fansler Corporation in Indianapolis, which specializes in such restoration work.
That effort included recasting parts as needed and sandblasting layers of paint that had been applied over the years.
It also includes cleaning and conserving sections of cast iron, repairing corrosion, applying fresh paint and protective coating, and updating the mechanical and plumbing systems.
“It’s going to look new. And we are going to add some additional features so it will once again serve as the beloved center landmark of the historic town park square,” Henderson said.
