GALWAY — A nearly century-old fountain that once quenched the thirsts of horses and pets as well as humans will soon be restored to its former beauty.

The fountain in Galway Village Park was a gift from a well-known local philanthropist who made millions in shady land dealings in California, according to local historians.

Deputy Galway Historian Thomas Cwiakala said the fountain was a gift to the animals and people of Galway from Horace Carpentier.

Carpentier was born Horace Carpenter in Saratoga County. He added an “i” to his surname at some point between leaving Galway and landing in California during the Gold Rush.

He was the first mayor of Oakland and acquired all rights to and control over San Francisco Bay waterfront, which netted him a great fortune, according to Cwiakala.

“There’s a story that he was hidden in a bale of hay and hustled out of town before an angry mob could get him,” Cwiakala said.

When he returned to New York, after an extended stay in China, he spent much of his wealth on public parks and health facilities.

“He was a member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,” Cwiakala said. “These fountains were popular at that time in New York City and he provided one for Galway.”

The fountain has spouts that once received water from a well behind Carpentier’s house. There are three cast-iron bowls for water at the bottom for dogs and cats, a larger trough in the middle facing the road for horses and another on the back for humans.

Village trustee Geralyn DeLaFleur said originally a tin cup hung on a chain and was the communal drinking utensil for people.

Members of the Galway Preservation Society on Friday installed a new finial on the fountain to replace one that was apparently stolen during World War II when scrap metal collecting was profitable.

Ray David said he made a template for a new finial on his wood lathe and that mold was used at LaPan’s Foundry in Hudson Falls to create a new cast-iron piece for the top of the fountain.

“We had it welded on to make sure no one makes away with it again,” David said.

The finial was covered with a coat of spray paint to keep it from weathering until later this summer when the entire fountain will be sand blasted and repainted a shade of green that is believed to be its original hue.

DeLaFleur said a plate that was once attached to the fountain was recently discovered lodged inside a pipe leading to the spout that provided water for people to drink.

Another village trustee, Ann Best, was cleaning leaves and debris out of the trough and reached up and found the plate, DeLaFleur said.

The plate states the fountain was donated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A cast-iron bowl with lettering indicating it was for use by cats and dogs was discovered under a porch in the neighborhood and has been returned to its original place.

Cwiakala said the fountain had quite a bit of science behind it to get the water to flow.

“Water was drawn from a well by a pump attached to a windmill,” he said. “The water was held in a concrete tank and fed by gravity into the house and to the fountain.”