File:Plaza Fountain 1897 Darlingron.png

Frederic W. Darlington was an electrical engineer from Philadelphia who built electric street railroads and street lighting, trades that had taken him as far afield as Japan, but he also built decorative electric fountains; one was situated at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York from 1897 to 1915.

To a population still largely accustomed to gaslight, the electric fountain was a thing of wonder, as this contemporary observation from the New York Mail and Express reflects.

"The new electric fountain near the arch in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, attracts large crowds nightly, and although it has been in operation for two weeks, custom does not seem to stale its infinite variety. The dazzling brilliancy of the lights, the quickness with which the colrs are changed and the beautiful rainbow effects which the skillful operator in charge of the electric buttons manages to obtain are magnets which draw spectators from near and far. On the opening night, fully 100,000 people watched the display. As soon as there is sufficient darkness there is a sound of rushing water, and a great white column rises into the air. About it are started other and smaller columns of water, falling toward the centre. After a few moments under the white light the colors are changed, and brilliant reds, blues, and greens chase each other through the falling spray, and, intermingling, form a panorama which is the delight of all the residents of Brooklyn." — New York Mail and Express. August, 1897

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