...and it's odd too. I grew up in Milwaukee, left when I was 13. (about 40 years ago) Nobody else calls them bubblers, and I've not heard the phrase in a loooong time. It's apparently a very regional name for a drinking fountain. I saw the post and immediately thought of the drinking fountain bubbler from when I was a kid.
Some things don't change much do they?
Who would have ever thought, we spend a lot of money buying that bubbling liquid stuff we used to get for free everywhere.