MAEDA applauds Ford investments as needed repair work begins on iconic Marshall fountain

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 Michigan.

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 its historic 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. Nearly 100 years of wear and tear left the fountain in need of significant structural and mechanical repairs, said Marguerite Davenport, director of Public Services for the city of Marshall. 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.

“With Ford’s donation, we’ll be able to take the first steps of restoring the Brooks Memorial Fountain to its original glory,” Davenport said. “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 BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall, which will create 1,700 jobs and produce batteries for electric vehicles when production is expected to begin in 2026.

“Ford has been an incredible community partner since the BlueOval Michigan project was announced more than two years ago,” said James Durian, CEO of Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. “Our community, residents and business owners are thrilled with Ford’s continued dedication to making Calhoun County a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

Ford also donated $25,000 to the city of Marshall for its tree planting initiative aimed at helping the municipality to keep its Tree City USA status, which provides communities a framework to maintain and grow their tree cover. In April, 60 trees were planted in and around Marshall because of Ford's investment.

“At Ford, we are committed to investing in beloved attractions in communities where our employees, customers and neighbors live and work,” said Gabby Bruno, Ford’s Community Relations director. “We’re excited to see important rehab work being done on the Brooks Memorial Fountain, which is an iconic monument in Marshall.”