History of the Fountain

The McColl Memorial Fountain stood from 1927-1939 in Bronson Park. Though the electric lights were lovely by night, the fountain was accused of looking "silo-esque" during the day, and by 1936, a more attractive replacement was sought .

In 1936, the Kalamazoo Business and Professional Womens' Club announced a competition to determine the design of the new fountain. The winner was a pupil of Alfonso Ianelli, but due to issues with the integration of the existing electrical work, Ianelli soon took over the project. This is one of his early designs for the fountain.

After several years of deliberation and many changes to Ianelli's models, a design was agreed upon. The McColl fountain was demolished, and work on the Fountain of the Pioneers began in 1939. The fountain was created using poured concrete, and was completed in 1940. 

Many community members thought that the fountain design was strange, with one stating that "... commissioners apparently desire to locate the fountain to the east to give the Indian plenty of room in which to fall should the pioneer succeed in shoving him over the fountain ledge..." However, upon its inaguration, the community was proud of the accomplishment and of their lovely fountain, even if they didn't quite "get it."