Sanitary Drinking Fountain, SLC ca 1910 postcard. Image from ebay. |
Beginning about 1909 the SLC Council had these types of fountains installed throughout the business district of downtown.
The “sanitary” aspect was a mouth guard on the fountain that prevented the spreading of germs. These types of fountains replaced earlier drinking fountains where people placed their own cup under a spout of running water.
Many “Ban the Cup” campaigns around this time convinced the nation that the sanitary fountain was a safer alternative.