The Fisher Boy and the Chamberlain Fountain

The 'Fisher Boy' - formally known as the Chamberlain Fountain, features a bronze sculpture by Andrew O'Connor Sr. The fountain and statue were installed in Washington Square in 1915 and later moved to Elm Park in 1956.

The Fisher Boy statue and the Chamberlain Fountain's curation and installation coincided with the opening of what we now know as Union Station. The French-Renaissance style building was completed in 1911, replacing an earlier station built in 1875 with a 212-foot high clock tower.

The statue and fountain's move to Elm Park followed the planned redesign of the Washington Square intersection and the installation of a traffic circle. In its heyday, six streets converged in front of Union Station: Foster, Front, Grafton, Mulberry, Shrewsbury, and Summer, with traffic signals in the middle of the square to direct traffic. Following World War II and the increase in Worcesterites partaking in vehicular transportation, traffic bottlenecks in the square increased and a small, temporary rotary was installed in 1947. That rotary was enlarged following a proposal in 1955, that resulted in the relocation of the Chamberlain Fountain and Fisher Boy statue, with a $1.25 million state public works project finished in 1957, which also included the demolition of several buildings in the area.

The Fisher Boy Statue and Chamberlain Fountain, 2016, Photo Credit: Park Spirit of Worcester, Inc. c/o WPI IQP

The Fisher Boy Statue and Chamberlain Fountain at Washington Square, date unknown, Photo Credit: Worcester Historical Museum

Exterior view of New Union Station with old Union Station in the forefront, at Washington Square, date unknown, Photo Credit: Worcester Historical Museum

Old Union Station at Washington Square, 1895. Photo Credit: Worcester Historical Museum