Dillon Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Dillon Memorial is located in LeClaire Park
, near downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993. It is commonly referred to as the Dillon Fountain.
who was a Davenport attorney, an Iowa Supreme Court
Justice and a judge on the United States Circuit Court
. A bequest after his death on May 6, 1914, provided for the memorial in his honor. The memorial anchors the south end of Main Street and faces the Civil War Monument
on top of the bluff in the center of the College Square Historic District
.
Like the Civil War Monument, Main Street surrounded the Dillon Memorial. When the memorial was constructed in 1918 there were no other structures on the south side of River Drive. In 1922 the Municipal Natatorium
was built on the west side of the street from the memorial, and a year later the Lend-A-Hand Club
was built to the east. The Lend-a-Hand building was also listed on the NRHP. In the late 20th century the memorial returned to its original state when the other two structures were torn down. Main Street was then closed south of River Drive and the area was incorporated into LeClaire Park in 1997. At that time the brick plaza was built around the fountain. .
artists Franklin and Arthur Ware won the competition and designed the memorial in association with Paul Schultz.
The Dillon Memorial is a Classical Revival structure built in concrete
. The monument is an upright, fluted column surrounded by a circular basin, which functions as a fountain. A lantern sits on top of a platform capital. Bas-relief panels of lion heads and garland swags decorate the base of the column. There is also a bas-relief likeness of Judge Dillon on the column.
LeClaire Park
LeClaire Park is a public park located along the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is situated between two other riverfront parks: Centennial Park on the west and a new park that is being developed to the east. The park includes monuments, a bandshell. a baseball...
, near downtown Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993. It is commonly referred to as the Dillon Fountain.
History
The structure memorializes John Forrest DillonJohn Forrest Dillon
John Forrest Dillon was an American jurist who served on both federal and Iowa state courts, and who authored a highly influential treatise on the power of states over municipal governments.-Early life and career:...
who was a Davenport attorney, an Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
Justice and a judge on the United States Circuit Court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
. A bequest after his death on May 6, 1914, provided for the memorial in his honor. The memorial anchors the south end of Main Street and faces the Civil War Monument
Soldier's Monument (Davenport, Iowa)
The Soldier's Monument is an historic structure in the College Square Historic District in Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983...
on top of the bluff in the center of the College Square Historic District
College Square Historic District
College Square Historic District is located on a bluff north of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
.
Like the Civil War Monument, Main Street surrounded the Dillon Memorial. When the memorial was constructed in 1918 there were no other structures on the south side of River Drive. In 1922 the Municipal Natatorium
Natatorium
A natatorium is a term given for a building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building, although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building...
was built on the west side of the street from the memorial, and a year later the Lend-A-Hand Club
Lend-A-Hand Club
The Lend-A-Hand Club was located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States along the riverfront. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1997.-History:...
was built to the east. The Lend-a-Hand building was also listed on the NRHP. In the late 20th century the memorial returned to its original state when the other two structures were torn down. Main Street was then closed south of River Drive and the area was incorporated into LeClaire Park in 1997. At that time the brick plaza was built around the fountain. .
Architecture
The Davenport Levee Improvement Commission sponsored a design competition for the memorial. New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
artists Franklin and Arthur Ware won the competition and designed the memorial in association with Paul Schultz.
The Dillon Memorial is a Classical Revival structure built in concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
. The monument is an upright, fluted column surrounded by a circular basin, which functions as a fountain. A lantern sits on top of a platform capital. Bas-relief panels of lion heads and garland swags decorate the base of the column. There is also a bas-relief likeness of Judge Dillon on the column.