Bob and Mary Mason: Their Lives and Local Involvements

Name/Title

Bob and Mary Mason: Their Lives and Local Involvements

Entry/Object ID

2024.41.212

Scope and Content

BOB AND MARY MASON Saugatuck Retirees Who Made a Difference March 19, 2011 Charlaine and John Shack met Mary and Bob Mason for their oral history interview at the Mason's Grant Street home of almost 30 years. The interview was hastened by the news that they were leaving Saugatuck to live in an assisted living community near Chicago where they would be closer to family. This interview was done in three parts: Chapter 1 covers Bob and Mary's lives up to their retirement move to Saugatuck. This includes their early influences, schools, meeting in college, career activities, their three daughters, Mary's volunteer and work activities, Bob's significant law career, and their Great Lakes sailing adventures. Chapter 2 covers Bob's decision to leave the practice of law and try his hand at running a business in Holland, MI. It includes the extensive involvement of both Bob and Mary in numerous community developments including dunes conservation, library support development, historic preservation, and interface with several boards for which Bob constructed bylaws. In addition, Mary worked hard for the preservation of a Democratic party in Allegan County. Bob's description of the Denison south property purchasing struggle is especially enlightening. Chapter 3 contains powerful statements made by both Bob and Mary about the future challenges of the Saugatuck area. Dune Conservancy Lake Kalamazoo cleanup and dredging Area government consolidation Historical preservation

Collection

Family History, Historic Preservation

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2024.41

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Credit Line

To view this recording, scroll down to the bottom of this entry and click the blue web link. This video was created by Saugatuck-Douglas History Center volunteers or was donated to the Center in a good faith effort to preserve local history. If you feel this content should not be available to the public — or have additional information that will add context to this interview — please contact the SDHC Archives at archives@mysdhistory.org.

Oral History Details

Interviewee

Mason, Bob, Mason, Mary

Interviewer

Shack, John, Shack, Charlaine

Interview Date

Mar 19, 2011

Location

Oral History DVD/CDs
AWS/VidArch SSD/DVD originals drawer

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Mason, Bob, Mason, Mary

Create Date

November 9, 2024

Update Date

June 24, 2025