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ELKINS -- Davis & Elkins College recently added another component to beautify the Mary Frances Garden that surrounds the historic Halliehurst Mansion on the college's campus.
A nearly 8-foot-tall water fountain has been added to the circular garden, which was constructed in 1980 in honor of the late Ralph and Mary France Shepler. The Sheplers were instrumental in helping restore the mansion, which was in disrepair and close to being torn down in the mid 1980s.
The fountain, which weighs 2,200 pounds, was installed by Davis & Elkins College's National Management maintenance staff. It stands among the array of flowers that grace visitors at the entrance of the mansion.
The college will hold a dedication ceremony for the fountain today at Halliehurst beginning at 10 a.m.
"The fountain is such a complement to Halliehurst and to the beautiful Mary Frances Garden," Davis & Elkins College President Chris A. Wood said. "It has already become a daily photo spot for prospective students and a gathering spot for our current students.
"The sound of the water is the perfect invitation to pause and enjoy the lovely surroundings Ralph and Mary Frances Shepler envisioned."
The Sheplers served on the Davis & Elkins Board of Trustees and helped spearhead a campaign to have the mansion restored in 1990.
The Sheplers received the West Virginia Philanthropist of the Year award in 1992 for their work in restoring Halliehurst. The couple also established the endowed Mary Frances & Ralph Shepler Scholarship for Randolph County students attending Davis & Elkins College.
The mansion was built in 1890 by architect Charles T. Mott and was once the summer home of United States Senator Stephen Benton Elkins, who is one of Davis & Elkins College's founders. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.