website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of
Watertown, Wisconsin
Bobby Maas
Memorial Fountain
August 2004
The
Bobby Maas Memorial Fountain at Fannie P. Lewis Park
Dedicated
on August 8, 2004.
A
patron of the arts in Watertown, Bobby was one of the founders of the Watertown
Arts Council, had served as president of the council for more than 25 years and
spent many hours on the council's outdoor art festival and fostering the
beautification of the city of Watertown through the installation of three river
fountains, the hanging planters on Main Street, Christmas lights and starting
the council's circulating art collection.
After
her death in 2000, the art council received numerous memorials in her
name. Because she loved fountains, the
council agreed that some sort of fountain should be set up in her honor and
Bobby had discussed the possibility of a fountain at Fannie P. Lewis Park
shortly before her death.
Bobby Maas, Patron of the Arts
(1922-2000)
The Watertown Branch of the American
Association of University Women (AAUW) is proud to sponsor a series of short
biographies of Women who made a Difference.
As a
founder and president of the Watertown Arts Council for 34 years, Bobby Maas
spearheaded several projects to enhance the beauty of the city.
She was instrumental in placing three
fountains in the Rock River and hanging pots filled with flowers along Main Street. Under her direction, the Arts Council donated
money for new streetlights on the Main Street Bridge, and also made and donated
lighted Christmas wreaths for the new street lights. She was a leader in programs to plant more
trees around the city and fought to replace willow trees along the river at
Riverside Park and Fannie P. Lewis Park.
Maas spent countless hours organizing the Arts Council’s annual outdoor
art festival and beginning the Council’s circulating art collection.
The Main
Street Bridge was named for her by the Watertown Riverfest
Committee in 1996 in recognition of her contributions to the community. At that time, she was called the art
conscience of the community who was not afraid to challenge bureaucrats for
programs to help beautify the city. Maas
was nominated twice for the Governor’s Award for the Wisconsin Foundation of
the Arts for her tireless work in promoting arts in the city. She was also named Woman of Merit in 1986 by
the American Association of University Women.
In addition to her work with the Arts
Council, Maas was an active member of the Watertown Country Club where she had
a hole-in-one two times, a member of the Watertown Dance Club and had been very
active in the former Watertown Curtain Club.
Maas loved flowers and developed an extensive garden at the family home
along the Rock River. The Maas flower
garden was featured in an AAUW fundraiser in 1997.
Maas was born and raised in Watertown,
the daughter of Dr. W.W. and Doris Arzberger. After
attending Downer College in Milwaukee, she graduated from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. She married Albert
Maas Jr. in 1947 and they had two daughters and three grandchildren.
After her death, the Arts Council
received numerous memorials in her name, and the Bobby Maas Memorial Fountain
was installed at Fannie P. Lewis Park in
2004. Maas is remembered for her
flamboyance and zest for life. She left
Watertown a legacy of beauty and culture.
2004
08 05 Bobby
Maas Memorial Fountain
Family, friends and members of the
Watertown Arts Council gathered together Sunday noon for the dedication of the
new fountain in Fannie P. Lewis Park in memory of the late Bobby Maas. The Bobby Maas Memorial Fountain is a fitting
tribute to Maas, a patron of the arts who served as president of the Watertown
Arts Council for many years. Family
members attending the dedication included Albert Maas, her husband of over 50
years, who lives in the family home he built across the Rock River from the
park, located on North Water Street. Several speakers mentioned Bobby Maas’
contributions in enhancing fine arts in the community and her efforts to
beautify the city.