City of Rochester officials commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Miss Jane Pittman Public Drinking Fountain in the Liberty Pole Plaza on Wednesday.
The three-headed, brass Miss Jane Pittman water fountain is symbolic of the era when blacks and whites could not sip from the same drinking fountains.
"It represents liberty, equality and humanity for the city of Rochester,” says Midge Thomas, the wife of late Dr. Freddie Thomas, the driving force behind the fountain.
“I needed a drink of water 25 years ago, and I wanted to make sure that people had free drinking water in the downtown area."
In 1987, Thomas was charged $.10 for a cup of water in downtown in order to take her medication.
The public drinking fountain earned its historical name based on the Ernest Gaines' novel “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.”
“We wanted this drinking fountain to have more meaning than just having a drink of water. It talks about the history of this country of America," Thomas says.
The Freddie Thomas Foundation donated the fountain back in 1989. Thousands shared in the unveiling ceremony on July 30, 1989, while Mayor Ryan, Ernest Gaines and Midge Thomas took their ceremonial drink from the brass fountain.
Mayor Warren declared July 30th Midge Thomas Day for her many contributions to the Rochester community.
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