HISTORY
May 30, 1963
The first summer show occurred on May 30, 1963 as shown in the photo! The Musical Fountain has provided free nightly shows from Memorial Day to Labor Day ever since with additional weekend shows in May and September. People come by car, boat, bike, skateboard, on foot, paddle board, or…to enjoy the show!
The Musical Fountain Founders
2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the Grand Haven Musical Fountain! This year we will honor the legacy of the many volunteers that made this spectacle of water, lights, and music not only possible, but entertain and endear generations over six decades! Listed below are all the 17 original members of the first committee that planned, designed, and built the Grand Haven Musical Fountain.
The Creator of the Musical Fountain
The fountain was the brainchild of Dr. William “Bill” Creason, a longtime resident, dentist, and former mayor of Grand Haven. He was a timeless visionary who saw the potential in the beautification of the Grand Haven waterfront. The fountain was modeled after a a 12 foot Przystawic musical fountain show which Dr. Creason saw in Germany while providing dentistry for the US Navy after World War II.
Dr. William Creason (1922-2014)
The visionary, founder, and creator of the Grand Haven Musical Fountain.
Dr. Creason is shown here among several of the old aircraft runway landing lights used to light the fountain; stored for the winter in the Pump House of the Grand Haven Musical Fountain in this file photo from Oct. 16, 1987.
The Designer of the Musical Fountain
Designed by a local engineer, William Morris Booth II (the patent holder), and built in 1962 by volunteers at an estimated cost of $50,000, this fountain was the largest musical fountain in the world when it was built; holding the title until 1998 with the installation of the WET Design built Bellagio Fountains at the Bellagio Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, NV.
William Morris Booth II (1921-2008)
Mr. Booth was the designer of the Musical Fountain and holder of several patents on the fountain. Here he is shown in the pump house circa late 1960s.
The Voice of the Musical Fountain
Ron Hartsema (1932-2021)
Ron Hartsema was “The Voice” of the Musical Fountain for 44 years, from its inception in 1962 until 2006!
Ron was part of the original Musical Fountain committee. From 1962 to 2006 he created, produced and recorded over 200 original fountain programs. His signature "Good evening and welcome, I am the Grand Haven Musical Fountain" is well-remembered by many throughout Western Michigan.
The Rest of the Original Committee
Preston Bilz
Bernie Boyink
Walter Bruin
Glenn DePagter
Tom Fullerton
Dick Hammer
Foster Poe
George Purcell
J. B. Sims
Clarence Smith
R. V. Terrill
George VerDuin Sr.
Bob Warnaar
Marshall White
The Musical Fountain underwent a major upgrade in 1983 with a new Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control system, a Radio Shack personal computer (TRS-80), a new sound system, and the addition of the tall speaker houses angled north and south to serve the ever increasing crowds up and down the channel “boardwalk”.
The press was invited to tour the upgraded Musical Fountain.
1983 - Radio Shack TRS80 computer, 4 channel reel-to-reel tape recorder
