Where's Leda and the Swan?

Sage Library Landmark Fountain reconstruction under way.

July 14, 2010
By: Stephen Kent

Where's the fountain? What's going on?

Anyone driving by Sage Library on Midland street couldn't miss the construction work out front. The landmark fountain "Leda and the Swan" is just a hole with a small tractor sitting in it. The main fountain is off to the right and the famous "Leda" to is missing entirely.

Never fear, the fountain will be back. According to the Librarians, the pool around the fountain has never been rebuilt. The old stone floor of the pool needed repair. The work should be done soon and the fountain back to it's natural state.

The statue was quite a controversial item when installed in front of the 1883 Library. There was an outcry about Leda's state of undress. Some people questioned spending public money on such an item (although the fountain was paid for with private or donated funds.) Today the statue is a landmark and a beautiful one at that.

So where's Leda and her swan? They went south to their winter place. Well... south by about 50 feet. They reside in the library basement every winter and that's where they're stored now.