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South Acton Watering Trough, 1896

Location: 12 School Street, South Acton, next to Exchange Hall driveway
South Acton Watering Trough
In the summer of 1896, a stone watering trough was installed in South Acton.  David Harris installed the trough using granite from his quarry in North Acton.  The funds came from money left in the treasury of the South Acton Reform Club when it was disbanded.

The South Acton watering trough was the subject of some complaints after installation.  It was often dry, and it took several years for a well to be dug.  It was replaced by an iron "fountain" in the center of Exchange Square in 1913 which in turn came to be seen as obsolete by 1930.  At that time a water bubbler was installed on the old stone trough.  It was moved from what is now the driveway of Exchange Hall to its present position on the nearby sidewalk and is now used as a planter, maintained by the Acton Garden Club.

For more information, see

Concord Enterprise, South Acton news items:
July 9, 1896, page 4
July 16, 1896, page 8
July 23, 1896, page 8
Oct. 28, 1897, page 8
Aug. 18, 1898, page 8

Also:
Acton Town Report, Year Ending Dec. 31, 1930: March 10, 1930 Town Meeting, article 29 & Selectmen's Report

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