The Old Fifth Street Market in downtown Cincinnati as it appeared in the 1860's. This was the site which would become the original home of the Tyler Davidson Fountain after the destruction of the market.

The initially proposed site, however, was different. The initial site, an open space on Fifth Street between Walnut and Main Streets, was proposed in a city ordinance of March 15, 1867: "as nearly equidistant between the north and south sides of the Fifth Street market space as may be convenient, and within one hundred feet east of Walnut Street." But the space was found to be inadequate.

Mr. Probasco and his architect next proposed building the fountain to the next space to the west - the square on Fifth Street between Vine and Walnut Streets where the market, by then in dilapidated condition, stood in the way. This led to a legal confrontation between the city and the market's fifty or more occupant merchants. The merchants lost the battle which ended in nearly immediate destruction of the market building in a few hours of concentrated work to the cheers of the Cincinnati public.

(photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Museum Center)