Historic water trough will be back in action

Staff photo by Ben Baugh

An object that has played a significant role in Aiken's history and at one time helped to hydrate what was once the city's preferred mode of transportation was moved June 16 and will once again serve the purpose it was meant for.

A horse trough that had previously been behind the County courthouse not only has a new home but will also be part of Aiken's 175th anniversary celebration in 2010.

Fox and Hound Realty's broker Billy Benton told Elliott Levy, Aiken County Historical Museum executive director, about the horse watering trough that was behind the courthouse, mentioned that it wasn't in use and suggested that it would be a nice idea to move it to a location where it could be used, just outside Banksia.

Levy played an integral role in helping with the project, working with both City and County officials, and making it come to fruition, said Benton, in an e-mail. A number of organizations have been involved with the project, including the Aiken County Public Works department and the Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum.

"Billy, myself and Tom Cofer (a project member of the Equine Hydrology Feature Working Group) feel that the horse community that will be using the horse trough will also be supportive of the project," said Levy. "The labor will be provided by the County and City, but the materials like the recirculating pump costs money, and hopefully the horse community will come to our assistance."

The estimated cost of the project according to Benton is $6,000, and the objective is to have the trough operational some time this fall, he said.

"This will be another beautiful water feature in Aiken," said Benton. "This will be a place where people will want to stop to take a picture, and then go in and visit the museum."

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2010, at 11 a.m.

The current site where the water trough sits was selected by horsemen Linda Knox McLean and Jane Gunnell.

"I was brought over to where the water trough was, and I said it looks great," said Levy. "Being a County employee, I talked to several people including the county administrator, and they said it doesn't sound like a bad idea. We were fortunate to have Jimmy Bolton and his crew, Brian Sanders and John Dyches, to look over the situation, and the County Bridge and Roads department moved the water trough to its present site."

The idea to move the horse trough was well received by all parties, said Levy.

"We contacted Liz Godard, and she thought it was a great idea," said Levy. "We want to run a PVC line from the museum to the water trough, and we talked to the City about having a recirculating pump, so the water will be fresh and circulating. We'll have water for the horses that I'm sure will be greatly appreciated. There'll be water below so dogs will be able to drink from it. We want a spigot that shuts off automatically, so if people want to fill their bottles, if they're runners or walkers, they can do that. It's going to be useful."

Aiken County historian Allen Riddick told Levy the water trough was located at one time on Richland Avenue between where Plum Pudding and Aiken Drug are now located.

"You want to be able to maintain that flavor and identity that's part of Aiken," said Levy.

Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.