Wanda Gag's stove arrives at museum

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Another relic of one of New Ulm's most famous residents, artist and children's author Wanda Gag, arrived at the Brown County Historical Society Museum on Tuesday.

The relic is a 1930s circa cast-iron, wood-burning stove from the studio Gag built at her home "All Creation" in Milford, N.J.

The stove served as an inspiration for many of Gag's lithographs. It also was the focal point for many photographs taken of Gag and her work.

Its design incorporates a pot where water could be heated to provide humidity for Gag's studio. Some pictures show a vase of flowers atop the stove.

The stove will be placed on exhibit. It will become part of the museum's permanent collection.

The stove's journey to New Ulm started when Santa Fe artist George Glotzbach decided to do research on Gag. His investigation led him to New Ulm. Then he headed east to the three places where Gag had lived, including the home of artist Clarence Carter in Milford. Carter had purchased the house at "All Creation," where Gag lived during the 1930s.

Glotzbach recognized the stove in Milford's house as the one featured in several of Gag's works.

Unsure whether the stove was still being used, Glotzbach mentioned that if Carter ever sold the house or the studio, then the stove should be sent to New Ulm.

Carter died in 1999, and his son took over the estate. Carter's son contacted Brown County Historical Society officials to see if they were interested in the stove, and if they would be willing to pay the shipping.

BCHS Director Bob Burgess agreed to do so.

The stove was used to heat Gag's studio, a free-standing structure located behind the Milford house.

According The Story of an Artist by Alma Scott, Gag bought the house in 1930. Nestled in the Muscanetcong Mountains on the banks of Quequacommissicong Creek, the 100-year-old house inspired her literary and artistic skills. Eventually, a fire destroyed some of the buildings on the property. Gag chose to build new structures on the remaining foundations. Ultimately she created an personally idyllic site that she named "All Creation" because she wanted everything about the place to be conducive to creative work. It was here where she wrote her books.