Star Dream Fountain Has Polished New Look

Royal Oak’s most famous couple were inspected, cleaned and waxed by Venus Bronze Works over the weekend.

The Detroit-based sculptural restoration firm has been inspecting and maintaining the bronze Star Dream Fountain near at a cost of of $9,250 annually since 1999. The funding comes from the Downtown Development Authority.

The Star Dream Fountain, the work of the late Marshall Fredericks, was dedicated in 1997. Fredericks, who had a studio in Royal Oak at 4113 N. Woodward Ave., also sculpted the Leaping Gazelle to the right of the main gate of the and the famed Spirit of Detroit in front the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit.

Royal Oak resident Gene Gray can appreciate the work done on the sculpture, but said he prefers a weathered look.

“The Statue of Liberty doesn’t get cleaned every year and the patina looks great. They leave it alone and they should leave this one alone, too,” Gray said Monday while sitting on a bench near the fountain.