This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Miss
Gladys Mollart
1960
01 16 Miss Gladys Mollart,
809 South Seventh Street, is among 90 delegates who will represent Wisconsin at
the Golden Anniversary White House Conference on Children and Youth. The
delegates received official invitations this week from the President of the
United States. On March 27 to April 2, delegates concerned with the interests
of children and youth will meet in Washington to develop recommendations for
citizen action programs to meet the needs of America's youth in the next
decade. WDT
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
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.
"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
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
Text
COPYRIGHTED by the Watertown Daily Times
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."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gladys
Mollart
1895 –
1987
06 08 1987
Historian Gladys Mollart dies
Saturday at age 92
Gladys Mollart, a
founder of the Watertown Historical Society and leader in the efforts to preserve
Watertown's history, died Saturday afternoon at Marquardt Memorial Manor due to
the infirmities of age.
Memorial services will
be held Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock at First Congregational United Church of
Christ with the Rev. Robert Tully officiating.
Burial
will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
There will be no
visitation. The Schmutzler Funeral Home
is in charge of arrangements.
Mollart, 92, resided at
809 South Seventh Street until recent years when she made her home at Marquardt
Memorial Manor.
Miss Mollart was a
charter member of the Watertown Historical Society which was formed in
1933. She played a key role in the
transition of the Octagon House from the ownership of the Richards family to
the society.
She served as the
historical society’s volunteer curator from 1945 until 1978 when she resigned
from the position but continued as the society historian.
She also was a leader
in getting the first kindergarten moved from its original site at the corner of
Second and Jones streets to the Octagon House grounds and also the pioneer barn
from the old toll road to the grounds.
She also led the
successful effort to have the Octagon House and First Kindergarten listed on
the National Register of Historic Sites.
Another goal of Miss
Mollart's was construction of an administration building on the Octagon House
grounds. That goal was realized in 1970
and was dedicated as "The Gladys Mollart Tour Center."
In addition to her vast
work with the historical society, she was active in the Watertown Area Red
Cross chapter, directed the activities of the Watertown Family Welfare group
for several years, was a charter member of the Watertown branch of the American
Association of University Women, was a member of the Wisconsin Antiquarian
Society, and the Saturday Club, the local affiliate of the Wisconsin Federation
of Music Clubs, and was a past president of those groups, and was a member of
the Wisconsin Historical Society.
She also worked on the
two highly successful fund drives for Watertown Memorial Hospital.
Miss Mollart was born
in Watertown on Jan. 11, 1895, daughter of the late Lobegott and Mina
Mollart. She was a member of the First
Congregational United Church of Christ.
A graduate of Vassar
College, she had been selected as one of Wisconsin's Outstanding Women.
Survivors include one
niece, Mrs. Ray (Mary) Wiersig of Two Rivers; one nephew, E. Ray Broenniman of
Santa Fe, N. M.; great-nieces; great-nephews; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by one sister
and four brothers.
