Sterne Fountain
Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Settling in Jefferson prior to the Civil War, Jacob and Ernestine Sterne became prominent leaders of the community. Their early management of the post office here and their involvement in civic and cultural activities reflected the dramatic influence Jewish families had on the development of Jefferson. In 1913 the Sternes' children gave this fountain to the city in honor of their parents. Designed for use by people and animals, it was cast by the J. L.. Mott Foundry of New York. The work of Guiseppe Moretti, it features a statue of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth. (1982)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Jacob and Ernestine Sterne settled in the riverport town of Jefferson before the Civil War and became civic pillars, helping run the post office and shaping its cultural life — part of the outsized role Jewish families played in the town's rise. In 1913 their children honored them by giving the city a cast-iron fountain from New York's J.L. Mott Foundry, crowned with sculptor Giuseppe Moretti's statue of Hebe, Greek goddess of youth. Designed to water people and animals alike, it still marks the family's legacy.
Why it matters
It testifies to the deep and often overlooked contributions of Jewish immigrant families to the commerce and culture of the 19th-century American South.
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Related people
- · Jacob Sterne
- · Ernestine Sterne
- · Giuseppe Moretti
Themes & tags
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