History of the Fountain

The Oregon Tech fountain is the only geothermal fountain built on a university campus that runs the whole year. It was installed when Dr. Kenneth Light was the President (1976 - 1983) to take the place of a moat. The moat was a u-shaped trench, filled with rainwater. During the Homecoming events students enjoyed playing tug-of-war over it. The early moat was home for several mullets (marine bony fish), the largest of whom was named Winston. The moat was so shallow, that the onlookers could clearly see a shark-like dorsal fin cruising in the water.

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Resources on Oregon Tech’s history

Oregon Institute of Technology, 1947-1997, The First Fifty Years, vol. 11 of the Journal of the Shaw Historical Library, (1997)

OVS, OTI, Oregon Tech: OREGON TECH’S FIRST 30 YEARS, 1946 – 1976 by Winston D. Purvine

The Owler, OIT’s yearbook from 1950 to 1983. Copies are available for use at through the University Archives and in the Shaw Historical Library.