John Barker Spring House
 |
| John Barker Spring House | |
|---|---|
 Interior of the springhouse in winter (2026) | |
 Interactive map of the John Barker Spring House area | |
Alternative names | Barker Springhouse Barker Spring House |
General information | |
| Type | Springhouse (public drinking water) |
| Location | Near Stadium Park (Monument Road/Monument Drive NW area), Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°48′55″N 81°23′30″W / 40.815159°N 81.391684°W |
| Opened | 1968[1] |
| Renovated | 2017[2] |
| Owner | Canton Parks and Recreation[1] |
The John Barker Spring House, named for the Rev. John Barker of Calvary Presbyterian Church, is a public springhouse in Canton, Ohio, providing free spring water. The water comes from a well drilled by the Canton Water Department in the 1920s. The springhouse structure was built in 1968 and reconstructed in 2017.
History
[edit]The water source for the springhouse comes from a 6-inch, 200-foot well drilled by the Canton Water Department in the 1920s.[2][3][1]At the start, the spring was a simple tap emerging from the hillside. The original structure was built in 1968 and dedicated to the Rev. John Barker of Calvary Presbyterian Church, with the funding for construction provided by donations made in his memory.[2][3][1]
Description and operation
[edit]The springhouse contains a row of four faucets flowing continuously into a trough.[3][2] Inside of the springhouse, there is a plaque that references Revelation 21:6.[3]
To ensure safety, the spring water is tested twice a year by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.[1][3]
Renovation and reconstruction
[edit]The springhouse closed on July 25, 2015 for exterior renovation, plumbing, and structural upgrades, then reopened briefly in September 2015.[4] It remained open until April 2017, when a plumbing break forced it to close just before the scheduled demolition was to begin.[5][2] The plumbing and an aging pump had become unreliable, and leaks were deteriorating structural support beams. The building was stripped to its foundation and rebuilt.[2] The new springhouse now uses a stone facade and metal roof in place of the prior brick-and-shingle exterior.[2]
The $96,900 reconstruction was completed by Motter & Meadows Architects and the RG Smith Company, funded by park levy revenue and $40,000 from AEP and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[2] AEP's part of the funding came from a city settlement it had reached related to an easement through Stadium Park.[5] The springhouse reopened in August 2017,[2] and was rededicated in September. [6][2]
Location
[edit]The springhouse is located by Monument Road and 17th Street NW near Stadium Park in central Canton,[2][3] and a stop on the West Branch Trail of the Herbert L. Fisher Walking Track.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Barker Spring House" (PDF). The Canton Connection. City of Canton (Canton Parks and Recreation). June 11, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Byer, Kelly (August 18, 2017). "Rebuilt spring house delighting area water lovers". The Repository. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Balint, Ed (October 8, 2015). "200 Things That Play in Stark County: Barker Springhouse is plentiful water source". The Repository. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ↑ Repository staff report (July 15, 2016). "John Barker Springhouse to stay open until July 25". The Repository. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- 1 2 Repository staff report (September 8, 2016). "Canton springhouse to reopen today". The Repository. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/cantonohio.parks/videos/a-cheers-to-the-re-dedication-of-the-john-barker-springhouse-with-none-other-tha/1436466729735185/