The WCTU Temperance Fountain stands near the middle of the Rehoboth boardwalk, a small cast-iron structure that was installed in 1904 by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union as part of the national temperance movement's effort to provide alternatives to alcoholic drinks in public spaces. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which has given it a certain ironic prestige in a town that now sustains dozens of bars and breweries.
The fountain is one of those small, easy-to-miss details that rewards the curious visitor. It serves as a reminder that Rehoboth's boardwalk culture was once contested ground between temperance advocates and the resort industry — a conflict the resorts won decisively. Water is still available from the fountain on hot days, should you want a drink of the approved kind.