In Rhode Island, we call this a “bubbler.” In the Rhode Island accent, it is called a “bubblah.” I believe Wisconsin also calls it a “bubbler”. Or Minnesota? When I was in one of those states, I heard someone say “bubbler” and I was like, “ARE YOU FROM RHODE ISLAND?”
This particular beauty is on the wall of the elementary school I attended (which is no longer an elementary school but is, instead, a daycare – or it was – now it is a Covid-testing center). The place is still untouched, with the surrounded playgrounds, old sandboxes, swingset frames, with no swings, a sort of desolate beauty … no more kids playing there. I felt the ghosts. This “bubblah” is practically at knee-level for adults.
Wisconsin also uses “bubbler” — I grew up with that! When we moved to Minnesota, fellow Wisconsinite transplants knew what we were talking about, and native Minnesotans tried to correct us on fountain vs bubbler, on pop vs soda, and on duck duck grey duck vs duck duck goose. I enjoy the US dialect map series that some study put together a while ago, but I had forgotten that Rhode Island uses bubbler, too!
Wisconsin! That’s right! I thought “bubbler” was unique to Rhode Island – until I went to Wisconsin. I never heard it anywhere else, and when I’ve said “bubbler” people were like “wtf is that.” Then I was in Wisconsin, among other “bubbler” people and I felt so happy and understood.
Oh and the pop vs. soda debate! we were always “soda” people
also soda people here!