County of city: Harper County
Location of city: North of center in county; crossroads of US-160, KS-2 & KS-16
County of central on the southern border of the state
Fountain location: Middle of intersection of Main St. & Central St., Harper
Elevation: 1,417 ft (432 m)
Population: 1,412 (2013)
THE OLE HARPER FOUNTAIN
The fountain was originally located on this site and presented to the City of Harper in the year 1909, by The Study and Social Club, under the direction of club president Matt Coulsor and club founder and teacher, Josephine Weatherly, at a cost of $375.00.
Accepted on behalf of the city by then Mayor M. S. Shephard. The fountain replaced the town water pump and served as a watering station for man and animal for a period of 60 years before being replaced by a more modern structure in 1969.
In 1983, the fountain was restored and on this original site through the direction of Brian Ede and combined efforts of the Harper Chamber of Commerce, inc. with monetary contributions by many former and present area citizens, and is dedicated with respect to the citizens of Harper past, present and future.
This fountain was accepted on behalf of the City by mayor Hurbert Johnson." ~ The Study and Social Club, October 22, 1983
And the fountain is still there, as you can see in this presentation by RoyceontheRadio
"Harper County was first organized in 1873. It was named in honor of Marion Harper of the Second Kansas Calvary who was killed in 1863 during a Civil War battle in Arkansas. The oldest city in the county, Harper was settled by a party of 11 families from Bloomfield, Iowa in April of 1877 and was named after the county. The site was chosen in anticipation of the railroad.
"In 1880 the Sante Fe Railroad halted in Harper. It became an important shipping point for various agricultural products. The highlight of many a Harper citizen was to spend their evening watching the trains come in. From then on, the town prospered. By 1892 the city boasted nearly 4,000 inhabitants.
"Harper has survived many disasters. The year of 1887 brought two disastrous fires. The Arcade Mill and later in the year, ten Main Street business were completely destroyed. Severe droughts were experienced in 1889, 1890, and 1894; many were forced to leave the state. One of the worst disasters to befall the city was the cyclone of 1892. Few lives were lost, but many homes and businesses did not withstand the damaging winds. In the days after, the sky opened up and sent heavy rains down onto the exposed structures. Goods were damaged as much, if not more by the flooding rain than by the cyclone. The destruction amounted to over $100,000 while that of the goods piled up to many thousands. The people of Harper pulled together to help those who were left devastated. Harper citizens continue today to work together in the face of adversity.
"There is still a lot of history to be seen here in the city. Harper is the home to the Runnymede Church; it was moved from the once thriving English town site north of Harper. An Englishman named F.J.S. Turnly bought land in 1887 (where a post office had-been established earlier) and he offered (for a $500 fee) to teach the sons of British gentlemen the secrets of successful farming. After learning what they needed to know to survive in the West, they could buy farms of their own and Turnly would advise them." ~ City of Harper