Boy with the Boot Fountain
Why it's listed
A small painted metal figure of a boy holding a boot aloft stands in Washington Park, in front of the Erie County Courthouse in Sandusky. The boy wears a cap, simple shirt and trousers, with one pant leg rolled up, one hand at his pocket and the other raising a boot from his bare foot. Water pours from a hole in the boot's toe. Hotel owner Voltaire Scott imported the statue from Baden, Germany, in 1895 for a small park near his Water Street hotel, and he left it to the city in his will. A tornado destroyed its original setting in 1924, and the statue was stored until 1935, when it was placed on the present tufa rock and cement base. It is listed because it has become a recognised symbol of Sandusky, reproduced on plates, needlework and small statues. The park itself was platted as the town square in 1818.
Significance in brief: The statue has become a symbol of Sandusky and has been reproduced on plates, needlework and small statues. It was a bequest to the city by hotel owner Voltaire Scott, who imported it from Baden, Germany. A reviewer noted it could also be significant as a civic symbol but that the form does not say where it became one.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001381, listed October 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Washington St. Park, Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001381 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sits on a tufa rock and cement base added in 1935 after a 1924 tornado destroyed its original setting; the form lists it as moved and not endangered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45440, -82.71280 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001381.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.