This 40 minute documentary was produced by Sidney Beaumont, a (then aspiring) video producer who stumbled upon the neighborhood and the fountain project early on. As I recall, the video was a training exercise for him and was a wonderful gift to our neighborhood. I rewatched it soon after learning of René’s Soulard’s death, and saw what a great tribute and memorial to him it would be.  I got permission from Sidney to upload the video and make it available again (we initially distributed it on VHS tapes, if you remember what those are).

The documentary is centered around the fountain construction (which lasted from June 1999 to its opening in June 2000, as documented in photos by René) but touches on the genesis and struggles of the Miler Park Neighborhood Association in the early to late 90’s (sort of documented in these old newsletters). René Soulard co-founded the neighborhood association and was the general contractor for the Miller Fountain (which remembers his late partner, Ron Bills), so he is a very strong presence in the video. The documentary inadvertently serves as a powerful remembrance of René: let me know if you’d like a copy of the DVD and I can make you one (or you can download it from Vimeo to your computer as an MP4 file). 

I’ll post a reminder and details of the Sunday, May 22nd Memorial and Celebration of Rene’s life nearer the time. René left instructions and funds for a party in his will. The official remembrance page for René is here.