The Story of the Gallery at the Big Blue House

Chris and Patty Conlin opened the Gallery 2006.

Committed to Local and Regional Artists

Patty has a long-running commitment to connecting with and promoting artists in Southern Minnesota and the region.  Developing goldsmiths have apprenticed with her since the 1980s. For 10 years, she had crafted her jewelry at Harpie's Bazaar in Mankato, a de facto gathering place for jewelers, artists, and art lovers. In 2003 she co-founded the Goldsmith's Reunion, a holiday art festival, now in its eighth year as the GSR Fine Art Festival.

An Unexpected Journey to Gallery Tending

The closing of Harpies in 2005 posed a dilemma. Her passion for working with gold and gemstones couldn't be dimmed, and it would be easy enough for Patty to tuck her bench in a quiet spot and market her work at shows and festivals. But would that be enough?

As a young jeweler working in larger retail shops, her bench was her sanctuary and interacting with customers was an intrusion. Opening and hosting a gallery was anything but a lifelong dream. Harpie's changed that for her; creating her pieces became a more social, communal, adventure.

Finding the Gault House available at a perfect location in St. Peter sealed the decision: Her bench would become the hub of a new gathering place for art and artists, just a stone's throw away from popular spots in southern Minnesota.

Integral to St. Peter

Patty has woven herself into the fiber of St. Peter, promoting the community as well as local and regional artists. The pieces at the gallery are constantly changing with the seasons and as she connects with new artists and works.

The Gault Family Legacy

Zuriel S. Gault, Nicollet County's register of deeds and auditor, grew up in Traverse Des Sioux, due north of present-day St. Peter. His father had settled there in 1853 as a pioneer, founding the general store which would be destroyed three times by arsonists. Zuriel's grandson has reported that "In those days they lived in a way that would probably embarrass me today. They took baths once a month, at best, and likely smelled of smoke."

Zuriel built this home for his bride in 1874.  His marriage to Mary Lincoln Lampman took place in New York state. When the two arrived in St. Peter after the wedding, the house was not yet completed, so they lived in a hotel for several months until all was ready for them.

Nicollet County Bank was founded as an accounts receivable for a grocery store in 1883; Zuriel Gault left his auditor's position soon after when he was hired by Hugo Stark and E.R. Moore to run the bank with them, becoming president within the first year.

The house remained in the Gault family until 1978 when Mrs. Lorenzo Gault, daughter-in-law of the original owners, died.

The Gault family remains a fixture in St. Peter today. Sam Gault, Zuriel's great-grandson, is the fourth generation Gault to head the Nicollet County Bank. In 2009 he was named Business Person of the Year Runner-Up by Connect Business Magazine. Lisa Gault, Sam's sister, is the bank’s senior vice president of real estate and marketing.  Their father Z. Sam, now in his late 70s, remains on the Board.

The house is an example of early Queen Ann architecture with its square tower and front-facing gables. The turret was added to the house in 1882 along with an addition to the back.

Chris and Patty Conlin honor its legacy as a sanctuary for all that is precious: Celebrating family moments, being mindful of our history, celebrating joy, and now, embracing fine jewelry and art.

Sources:

• Connect Business Magazine: Z. Sam Gault, Pioneer in a Banking Revolution, May 2001.
• Connect Business Magazine: Sam Gault: Business Person of the Year Runner Up, January 2009
• Nicollet County Bank: 2007 in Review