Mollart

This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

Gladys Mollart

A Biography

by Evelyn Rose

Gladys Mollart, a life-long resident of Watertown, Wisconsin, has been described as a warm and caring person, a woman with vision and ideas, a storehouse of historical knowledge, a charming hostess, a natural leader, an organizer, a motivating and a driving force. Conflicts of description? No, she is all of those things and more. She was born in Watertown on January 11, 1895, daughter of Lobegatt and Minna Mollert, and other than her college years (she is a graduate of Vassar) and a few years in residence at her brother's home in New York during World War I, she has always lived here. Her brother, Edward H. Bronniman, was at the time serving on the Belgian Relief commission as assistant to Herbert Hoover.

Gladys Mollart's father apparently sensed his small daughter's talents for leadership and human relationships when she was quite young "He suggested I go into the mission field," Miss Mollart related. "It seemed to him I had leanings that would equip me for that type of work." However, she opted for service nearer home and Watertown has been fortunate because of her decision. She often speaks of her family to whom she was quite devoted, and chuckles at one of her first accomplishments. One of her stepbrothers taught her how to do the cake walk and se won many prizes with this expertise.

Several organizations in Watertown are indebted to Gladys Mollart for her years of dedicated service, all on a volunteer basis. Leading this list is the Watertown Historical Society for her 48 years of devoted service toward its goals and accomplishments.

The history of the Watertown Historical Society is part of the history of Gladys Mollart. The Society was founded in 1933. She was a charter member. The famous Octagon House, owned by the Richards family members since John Richards designed and built it in the mid 1850's, was deeded to the Historical Society in 1938 and opened to the public in 1939. Gladys Mollart played a major role in this transition. From 1945 to 1978 she served as the Society's volunteer curator. She resigned then but remains today as Society historian.

The Octagon House, owned and operated by the Watertown Historical Society, is on the National Register of Historical Sites, as is the First American Kindergarten, its claim as first authenticated by the Library of Congress. There is also a pioneer farm from Watertown's old Toll road on the grounds. Miss Mollart played an active part in these acquisitions. However, she is quick to credit others. "All that has been accomplished," she insists, "would not have been possible were it not for many wonderful people who helped." This is probably true, but most large projects need a leader.

In 1969, at a gathering of Historical Society members in Miss Mollart's honor, the late Byron Wackett, state assemblyman and former Historical Society president, told the story of the First Kindergarten's move to the Octagon House grounds from its site on N. Second St.

"Miss Mollart," Wackett stated, "had conceived the idea of moving the Kindergarten to the Octagon House grounds. I told her it was impossible to move this old building that distance. 'It will fall apart, Gladys', I insisted. But she was persistent. She claimed it would not fall apart, and that she had talked to Mrs. Herman at Lake Mills and been assured the building could be moved. To make a long story short, the building was mover, and she came up with the money to restore it. Today that building is visited by thousands each year. Gladys always was a driving force."

At this same gathering, held as tangible recognition of Miss Mollart's years of service as curator, and in appreciation of the service and leadership she would continue to give, others also addressed the 200 guests present.

John Clifford, publisher of the Watertown Daily Times, and the other current charter member of the Historical Society, lauded Miss Mollart for the role she played throughout the years in making the Octagon House a cherished historical treasure. "She played a behind the scenes role and provided inspiration to others," Clifford said. "Her interest in the Octagon House continues with even accelerated enthusiasm. Now she and other members of the Society have in mind an administration building. The support this endeavor is receiving is heartwarming to her. Rest assured there will be an administration building. She'll see to that. She has vision, ideas and zoom. It is wonderful to live in a community where there are people like Gladys Mollart, and a real pleasure to live in a town where people take the time to express thank you for a job well done."

The new administration building opened almost within the year and was dedicated in September, 1970. Lee Block, then Historical Society president, made the dedication speech. "It is my pleasure on behalf of the Watertown Historical Society and its board of directors to dedicate this building and name it in honor of the single person who has been most responsible for the successful operation of the Society, the restoration of the First Kindergarten and the pioneer barn. It is a pleasure to have worked with her. By proclamation this building will hereafter be known as the Gladys Mollart Tour Center."

Dr. James Morton Smith, then director of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, and Ray Sivesind, who was state director of Sites and Markers in 1970, both attended and spoke of Miss Mollart's help in strengthening the ties between the state and local societies.

Although deeply involved with the Historical Society, Miss Mollart found time for other important services. In 1938 she was chairman of the Home Service committee of the Watertown Area Red Cross chapter, and served on this committee for several years. This later became the Aid to Military Families and Veterans. There was a great need for these services. In 1948 alone over 500 cases were serviced. She also directed the activities of the Watertown Family Welfare for several years.

Miss Mollart's concern for child welfare resulted in her appointment as a delegate to a Washington, D. C. three day Youth conference in 1960. President Eisenhower addressed the conference, which developed recommendations for citizen action programs to meet the needs of America's youth in the decade of the sixties.

Miss Mollart is a charter and senior member of the Watertown branch of the AAUW. She helped organize the group and the first meeting was in her home. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Antiquarian Society and the Saturday Club, local affiliate of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's clubs. She served as president of these three organizations. As a Saturday Club member in 1954, she was appointed to head a committee to study club purposes, strengths, weaknesses and potentialities. She and her committee came up with a report and recommendations that revitalized the organization. The Saturday Club will celebrate its centennial in 1984 as one of the oldest clubs in the state.

On March 1, 1971, a move was made from the old hospital to the new Watertown Memorial hospital. This move was preceded by two successful fund drives and months of work by the hospital building committee and board members. Miss Mollart was a member of both.

Mrs. George Swart, curator of the Hoard Museum in Fort Atkinson, at a gathering of Historical Society members, stated that "seldom does a person have the privilege of working with a colleague as unselfish, as wholesome, and as inspiring as Gladys Mollart has been to all of us."

Watertown's city council, in 1978, adopted a resolution signed by Mayor Carl Kolata, which praised Miss Mollart for the important role she played in the community. She has been the recipient of several awards during recent years. The Jefferson County chapter of the Reserve Officers association of the United States awarded her its outstanding citizenship award for appreciable contributions to the community. The Watertown Jaycees in 1969 presented a plaque to Miss Mollart, also in appreciation of community service. Miss Mollart was one of 12 Jefferson county residents who developed information for a new Jefferson county historical brochure in 1972, with information on 100 points of interest in the county.

Another special project of Miss Mollart's was connected with historical site markers in Watertown. She enlisted the services of the Saturday Club with the result that five historical markers have been placed in Watertown.

Two books published by the Watertown Historical Society have been dedicated to Miss Mollart - "Margarethe Meyer Schurz, a Biography" and "Our Heritage of Homes", in 1967 and 1980.

Miss Mollart has visitors from far places as well as local and state. Dr. Alfred Kamphausen, foremost authority on outdoor museums in Germany and Europe, visited Wisconsin to examine the Old World Wisconsin project, and also came to Watertown for a visit with Miss Mollart, relating to restoration and maintenance of the Octagon House.

The Milwaukee Journal ran a series of articles called "Focus on Wisconsin" in 1979. In the February 18 issue the author referred to Miss Mollart as a "storehouse of knowledge of local history."

One hundred twenty years of the history of Watertown's First Congregational United Church of Christ was authored by Miss Mollart in 1965. The church was founded in 1845.

Will all these accomplishments and awards to her credit, Gladys Mollart seeks no credit or praise for herself - rather she refers to so many who have worked with her on various projects as a "tremendous asset" to the organization and then adds "beside, I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Watertown Daily Times, Sesquicentennial Edition, 08 03 1987

When the city of Watertown celebrates its sesquicentennial this coming weekend, one of the foremost authorities on local history will be missing.

That individual is Miss Gladys Mollart who died June 6, just two months short of the start of the sesquicentennial celebration.

Miss Mollart participated in the organization of the centennial of the founding of Watertown back in the summer of 1938 and was a key mover in the celebration of 1954 which was the 100th anniversary of this community's official charter as a city by the Wisconsin Legislature.

But much more than that, she was Watertown's number one historian. She led the movement to form the Watertown Historical Society, secure ownership of the Octagon House and led the effort to purchase and move the First Kindergarten to the Octagon House Grounds.

Miss Mollart, a lifelong resident of the city, has been described by her friends and colleagues as a warm and caring friend, a woman with vision and ideas, a storehouse of historical knowledge, a charming hostess, a natural leader, an organizer, a motivating and a driving force.

She was born in Watertown on Jan. 11, 1895, the daughter of Lobegott and Minna Mollart. She was a graduate of Vassar College.

Miss Mollart was a dedicated individual to the city of Watertown and many organizations here are indebted to her for her years of service, all on a volunteer basis.

The history of the Watertown Historical Society is part of the history of Miss Mollart. The society was founded in 1933, of which she was a charter member.

The 57-room Octagon House, owned by the Richards family members since John Richards designed and built it in the mid-1850s, was deeded to the historical society in 1938, only five years after its founding. The building was opened to the public on July 16, 1939. The preservation of the Octagon House was Miss Mollart's prime interest.

Her second interest was in the old building which housed the First Kindergarten, located on the southwest intersection of Jones and North Second streets. When the building faced extinction to make way for a parking lot, she rallied her forces and arranged to have the structure moved to the Octagon House grounds.

The Octagon House and the First Kindergarten, owned and operated by the Watertown Historical Society, is on the National Register of Historic Sites. She served as the society's volunteer curator from 1945 to 1978.

In 1969, at a gathering of Historical society members in Miss Mollart's honor, the late Byron Wackett, state assembly-man and former historical society president, told the story of the First Kindergarten's move to the Octagon House grounds.

"Miss Mollart," Wackett said, "'had conceived the idea of moving the kindergarten to the Octagon House grounds. I told her it was impossible to move this old building that distance. It will fall apart, Gladys, I insisted. But she was persistent. She claimed it would not fall apart and that she had talked to Mrs. Hennm at Lake Mills and had been assured the building could be moved. To make a long story short, the building was moved, and she came up with the money to restore it. Today that building is visited by thousands each year. Gladys always was a driving force."

The new administration building that opened in September 1970 was named after Miss Mollart. Lee Block, then historical society president, made the dedication speech proclaiming the building as the Gladys Mollart Tour Center.

Besides being deeply involved with the historical society, Miss Mollart found time for other important services. In 1938 she was chairman of the home service committee of the Watertown Area Red Cross chapter, and served on the committee for several years. The group later became known as the Aid to Military Families and Veterans.

She also directed the activities of the Watertown Family Welfare for several years. In 1960, she was appointed as a delegate to a Washington, D.C. three day Youth Conference.

Miss Mollart was a charter and a senior member of the Watertown branch of the American Association of University Women. She helped organize the branch and conducted the first meeting in her home. She was also a member and president of the Wisconsin Antiquarian Society, the Saturday Club, and the local affiliate of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs.

In 1978, the Watertown City Council adopted a resolution signed by then Mayor Carl Kolata, which praised Miss Mollart for her important role in the community.

She also was honored by the Jefferson County chapter of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States for her outstanding citizenship and her contributions to the community. The Watertown Jaycees in 1969 presented her with a plaque in appreciation of community services.

Two books published by the Watertown Historical Society have been dedicated to Miss Mollart, "Margarethe Meyer Schurz, A Biography" and "Our Heritage of Homes," in 1967 and 1980. She is also included in a book, "Wisconsin Women: A Gifted Heritage."