Detroit Belle Isle James Scott Memorial Fountain
Detroit Belle Isle James Scott Memorial Fountain filed with Phantom 2 Vision Plus Drone - 8/5/15
James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle State Park
Fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit Michigan. Belle Isle is Michigan's 102nd State Park.
This was done in 20mph constant winds with 40mph gusts. You can see the props in a few spots where the UAV was fighting the wind
James Scott Memorial Fountain. Belle Isle, Michigan
Fixed and totally functional. Practically every time I'm at Belle Isle a wedding party is being photographed in front of the fountain or a promotional photographer in shooting a new automobile with Detroit in the background.
James Scott Memorial Fountain Belle Isle Detroit
Belle Isle - James Scott Memorial Fountain Detroit MI 7 1 15
James Scott Memorial Fountain
The Scott Memorial Fountain is the jewel of Belle Isle - and a monument to a womanizing scoundrel.
Socialite James Scott was said to have been lazy, eccentric, a prankster and a real rapscallion. He had inherited his money from his father — a successful real estate tycoon — and spent his days not working like the rest of his fellow Detroiters, but often gambling it away and being an all around man about town. He also made shrewd real estate investments that only added to his fortune. But he was a perpetual bachelor and frequently entertained women of “less moral fiber.” In his “The Buildings of Detroit: A History,” William Hawkins Ferry writes that Scott “had the reputation for being a vindictive, scurrilous misanthrope. … His enemies were legion, for he seemed to delight in feuds, lawsuits and practical jokes.”
When he died in 1910, his vast estate was left to the city to build a monument for the people. Of course, his gift came with a catch: The city also had to erect a life-size statue of himself. The issue would be locked in bitter debate for years.
“Only a good man who has wrought things for humanity should be honored in this way,” Bishop Charles D. Williams said of the plans to erect a fountain in Scott’s honor.
Dr. F. D. Leete, pastor of Central Methodist Church on Grand Circus Park, thought a statue “about two-and-a-half inches high” would be suitable, considering the moral stature of the subject, the Detroit News wrote.
J. L. Hudson, the department store magnate who started one of metro Detroit’s best known and most respected retail chains, also slammed the notion of a monument to Scott, saying, “Mr. Scott never did anything for Detroit in his lifetime and he never had a thought that was good for the city.”
But money won out, and it was decided to build the fountain on the southern tip of Belle Isle. “I don’t believe the city has a right to insult any of her citizens by refusing a gift for such a good cause,” then-Mayor Philip Breitmeyer said. A nationwide competition was held for the design of the fountain, and Cass Gilbert was the winning architect. Gilbert also designed the Detroit Public Library and the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington. The bronze statue of Scott was modeled by sculptor Herbert Adams of New York. The Vermont white marble fountain was unveiled May 31, 1925 - 15 years after Scott’s death — and cost $500,000 to build (about $6.2 million today).
The back of the chair holding Scott’s statue says: “For the enjoyment of the people and for the adornment of his native city. James Scott bequeathed to Detroit his fortune to be used in the construction of this fountain. Erected MCMXXIII. From the good deed of one comes benefit to many.”
The fountain is 510 feet across, and its central fountain could spray water 125 feet into the air. It has 109 water outlets in the shape of dolphins, turtles, lions and human figures.
Despite being the so-called jewel of Belle Isle, the fountain is currently dry. After undergoing a major restoration about 2005, thieves stole copper components of the fountain, rendering it inoperable. As of 2010, repairs were being made to the fountain.
More on this landmark of Detroit coming soon.
BY DAN AUSTIN OF HISTORICDETROIT.ORG
Video By DJ CENT - Detroit
djcent.com
Live In The D: Uniquely Detroit - The James Scott Memorial Fountain
Photojournalist Alex Atwell brings us a story about a uniquely Detroit landmark: the James Scott Memorial Fountain.
Night Time at the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle
Pull up a chair and relax to the sights and sounds of the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Originally opened May 31, 1925, the fountain is located at the western tip of Belle Isle and was recently fitted with color changing LED lights. The circumference of the fountain is about 510 feet and it shoots water up 40 feet in the air. Video was recorded with my Sony CyberShot DSC-RX100 II.
Belle Isle's Scott Fountain getting big upgrade with Grand Prix fundraiser money
Millions of people visit Belle Isle Park every year and enjoy the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Island visitors will continue to celebrate the fountain’s beauty and flowing waters for years to come as a result of the funds raised at this year’s charity event during Detroit Grand Prix race weekend – the PwC Grand Prixmiere, presented by Chevrolet.
Belle Isle James Scott Fountain August 2015 Detroit, Michigan
Beautiful James Scott Fountain located on Belle Isle in August of 2015 with all of the fountains working.
Detroit Michigan
Belle Isle, officially Belle Isle Park, is a 982-acre (1.534 sq mi) island park in the Detroit River, between the United States mainland and Canada. Owned by the City of Detroit, it is managed as a state park by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through a 30 year lease initiated in 2013.[1] Belle Isle is the largest city-owned island park in the United States and is the third largest island in the Detroit River after Grosse Ile and Fighting Island. It is connected to mainland Detroit by the MacArthur Bridge.
The island is home to the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Belle Isle Conservatory, the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the Detroit Yacht Club on an adjacent island, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard station, a municipal golf course and numerous monuments. It also previously housed a Nature Center where visitors were able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats, a former Belle Isle Zoo, riding stables and the Detroit Boat Club. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.
Under the James Scott Memorial Fountain
Volunteers work on the James Scott Memorial Fountain as they prepare the 1925-built fountain for spring. The fountain should be up and running by the Detroit Grand Prix event on Belle Isle. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
James Scott Memorial Fountain.
The James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle
A video of the The James Scott Memorial Fountain that's located at the western tip of Belle Isle. The fountain was originally opened May 31, 1925. The circumference of the fountain is about 510 feet and it shoots water up 40 feet in the air. At night the fountain is lit up with color changing LED lights. Video was recorded with my Nikon D7000.
James Scott Memorial Fountain in 4K
At the western tip of Belle Isle is the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Designed by architect Cass Gilbert, the fountain opened in 1925 and is the jewel of Belle Isle.
The fountain is 510 feet across, and its central fountain could spray water 125 feet into the air. It has 109 water outlets in the shape of dolphins, turtles, lions and human figures. There is also a light show at dusk.
Video was recorded on Saturday September 16 2017 with my Sony FDR AX100. The fountain is set to shut off for the 2017 season on September 18 or 20 (depending on which website you visit), and it looks like not all the fountains were running when I recorded this video.
2019 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Scott Memorial Fountain
Historical Fountain of Belle Isle+Art Fair of Summer 2018, Detroit City, State of Michigan, USA
Historical Belle Isle
Art Fair Summer
Belle Isle Park, more commonly known simply as Belle Isle, is a 982-acre island park in the Detroit River between Michigan and Ontario. The U.S.-Canada border is in the channel south of Belle Isle such that the island is not in Canada.
Michigan, USA.
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Links to stay in Detroit, Michigan
Other videos about Belle Isle:
2018
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Scott Fountain Belle Isle Detroit - Summer 2014
The Scott Fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit is one of the best attractions on the island. In case you can't get to see it in person, here's a video for you. Read about the video at
Uniquely Detroit: The Belle Isle Fountain
DTE Energy electrical engineer Robert Carpenter has been working on the fountain since 2007.
THE GREAT JAMES SCOTT 1831 TILL 1910.
IN DETROIT MICHIGAN AT BELLE ISLE VISITING THE BELLE ISLE JAMES SCOTT MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AND THOUGHT IF I CAN JUST GET UP THERE TO HIM, I JUST MIGHT ASK THE GREAT JAMES SCOTT A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Water fountain in Detroit
With Mario and Lisa