"The Old Town Pump' is the original creation of Perrysburg sculptor Ralph Kleeberger.

Mr Kleeberger is collaborating with the Perrysburg Area Arts Council, Flatlanders Gallery and Sculpture Supply to have the sculpture bronzed and permanently installed on the grounds of the old Commodore School Building.

Mr Kleeberger has generously donated the sculpture, the funds for the bronzing, and cost of the installation to enrich the community with public art and to preserve the past with reminder of the bygone days of the "Old Water Pump".

To learn more about the history of the water pump please read the article below:
"THE OLD TOWN PUMP" A monument dedicated to the kids of Perrysburg.

click here to view photos of the mold process

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"THE OLD TOWN PUMP" A monument dedicated to the kids of Perrysburg.

In the days prior to World War II, many towns like Perrysburg had an iron pump somewhere near the center of town. The pump served as a kind of gathering place for the locals to spend a little time chatting and catching up with the latest news. In early days when farmers hauled their grain to the local elevator by horse and wagon, it was a place for the farmer to get a well-needed cool drink. He usually carried a bucket with him on the wagon that he could fill with water for his horses. If he didn’t have a bucket he might take off his hat and fill it with water for the horses. The pump was also a popular gathering place for the kids of town. It was a great spot for water fights, and the little girls loved to hang by their knees from the round iron bar that formed a square around the pump. The little boys enjoyed watching the girls do their acrobatics but for more obvious reasons.

Sometime near the beginning of the 1940’s the town fathers decided to do away with the pump and the mess of the water around the pump and replace it all with a new drinking fountain, thereby putting an end to the water fights and the iron railing. Soon the pump was removed and the metal donated to the war effort along with one of the two cannons, one of which decorated the library grounds. The other which was placed at the top of Corncob Hill (Hood Park), was positioned rather menacingly in the direction of Maumee. It was very shortly thereafter that the boys discovered that it was possible to drench somebody at a longer distance with the drinking fountain than with the pump----and with a lot less effort.

Ralph Kleeberger using Perrysburg children as models created this lovely sculpture depicting two children at the pump. A sweet reminder of by gone days. Thanks to Mr Kleeberger's talent and generosity the Perrysburg community will have a permanent sculpture installed on the site of the old Commodore School building to enjoy and remember a piece of Perrysburg history.

For more progress on the bronzing stages of the sculpture by Ralph Kleeberger
visit Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Galleries.