HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Memorial Fountain on the campus of Marshall University, built in the memory of the 75 souls lost in the 1970 Marshall University plane crash, has been nominated by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission to be elevated to the National Register of Historic Places.
The addition will formally acknowledge its historical and cultural importance and preserve it for future generations to appreciate.
Marshall University President Brad Smith offered comments following the announcement Thursday, with the fountain in the background.
“This fountain is personal for all of us, and our stories have become their legacy,” Smith said. “November 14 is intertwined in the fabric of Marshall University.”
Smith said the loss of “the 75” and the fountain remind us of adversity and provide a place for the Marshall University faithful to remember, reflect, and find strength.
“Now, their story is our nation’s story,” Smith said. “The commission’s decision to request that the U.S. National Park Service designate the addition of this fountain to the National Register of Historic Places is a testament to those upon whom we stand today.”
MORE See Thursday’s event here
Smith reflected on the many traditions that have developed to keep the memory of “the 75” alive, and many of the people in attendance played some role in that tragedy. There are others who responded to the tragedy and still carry the heartache today.
“There are some that are with us today who may have been some of the first responders who were at the site, and there are millions around the globe who know their story,” Smith said. “Their story is my story.”
Like many fans of the Herd, Smith said the victims of the crash are remembered every day and have been since that terrible November night. For 52 years, the Memorial Fountain has provided a place where people can reflect and find comfort.
“I was six-years-old on that faithful night when I heard the sirens wail and saw the mountain burning outside my home in Kenova, and I was a junior in 1984 when the Thundering Herd achieved their first winning season following that tragedy,” Smith said. ”
The nomination will next be reviewed by the National Park Service. That review is expected to take about 45 days, and if approved It’s anticipated that the formal decision will take approximately 45 days. If approved, the Memorial Fountain would qualify for preservation grants and tax incentives.
“May this fountain serve as an example for the rest of our nation, simplifying and signifying the possibility of what it means to choose a reason and lean into the power of “we.”
The Memorial Fountain was designed by Henry Bertoia, is more than 13 feet high, and weighs 6,500 pounds. In 2008, renovations to the fountain included a new granite surface for the foundation, a copper catch tray, and a higher water spray than the original output when it was installed in 1972.