MARSHALL, MI (WTVB)- Marshall’s iconic Brooks Memorial Fountain is receiving much-needed repair and renovation work thanks to a recent donation by Ford, which is expected to begin production next year at its nearby BlueOval Battery Park .
As a result of feedback from a recent survey of Calhoun County residents, conducted by the Michigan automaker, Ford donated $140,000 to the city of Marshall for repairs to the fountain which was built in 1930.
The fountain, which is modeled after the Temple of Love in Versailles, France often serves as a backdrop for weddings and features colored lights that illuminate it at night.
According to Marguerite Davenport, Director of Public Services for the city of Marshall, Nearly 100 years of wear and tear left the fountain in need of significant structural and mechanical repairs. In recent years, the city had a mechanical, electrical and structural condition assessment completed on the fixture as well as a laser scan of the fountain to create a 3D model to support future work.
She says “With Ford’s donation, we’ll be able to take the first steps of restoring the Brooks Memorial Fountain to its original glory,. A new coating of paint is needed on the basin of the fountain, where the water is held, but first we have to remove many layers of paint applied over the years.”
The donation to the city for refurbishment of the fountain is among several investments Ford has made across southwest Michigan as the automaker continues to build the BlueOval Battery Park, which will create 1,700 jobs and produce batteries for electric vehicles when production is expected to begin in 2026.
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