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The Kona Fountain was presented
to the Town of Center Harbor in 1907. It was the gift of Herbert
Dumaresq, a Boston merchant
who called his Center harbor retreat the Kona Estate.
The fountain's sculptor was Richard Gerry Cook (1869-1955). Crook was
reckoned "one of America's foremost
artists in the salt-glazed stoneware medium of decorative pottery (Boson
Globe, 4/20/1955)."
The image of Kona is
central to the legend of naming Lake
Winnipesaukee. Kona (the Eagle), a young cheiftanm crossed the lake to court Ellacoya, the
daugher Ahanton, a bitter
enemy, as retold by Ursula Hegi in The Legend of Emma Blau"
"Ahanton who said no to anyone
who wanted to marry his daughter. He
[tired to] attack Kona, [but] the princess steppped between them. Kona showed
no fear so the chief consented
to his daughter's marriage. After the wedding Kona returned across the lake with his
bride, and a storm nearly
overturned the canoes. But all at once sun split the clouds, showing
the
way to safety. Ahanton called this the Smile of the Great Spirit —
Winnipesaukee." |
Address
35 Plymouth St
Center Harbor NH 3226-1339 |
Hours:
Mon
& Fri. 10-6;
Wed 1-7;
Th & Sat 10-1. |
Summer:
Mon
& Fri, 10-6;
Wed 10-7;
Ts, Th & Sat, 10-1 |
Phone:
603-253-6950 Fax: 603-253-7219
nicholsl@metrocast.net.
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