Boothby Square unfolds around you on the last cobblestoned stretch of Fore Street. The square bears the name of Frederic E. Boothby, a former mayor of Portland, and the water trough here is dedicated to his philanthropic wife, Adelaide. Once enclosed by iron railings, the square is now open but ringed by sections of granite blocks; the street is bisected by Silver Street.
The trough itself was installed in 1902 to supply water for horses and dogs and to offer a peaceful respite for people, part of the City Beautiful movement. In 1946 it was struck by a car, knocked off its base and had its ornate top broken; it was then removed and put in storage. An antiques dealer purchased it in 1983, and later donors raised $50,000 to buy back the trough and reinstall it here.
More recently, in 2006 the city installed the public art piece “Tracing the Fore,” created by landscape artist Shauna Gillies-Smith at a cost of around $135,000; it drew considerable criticism and was removed in 2011. Notice the cobbles underfoot, the granite blocks ringing the square, and Silver Street cutting straight through it.