The Old Main Story
Opened in 1862, Old Main, was the main building of Galesville University, a progressive, pioneer venture founded by Judge George Gale and friends to bring co-educational, non sectarian, education to the frontier of western Wisconsin.
The school offered classes in piano, melodeon, and guitar even before its first building was completed. Classes began in 1859 in the first Trempealeau County courthouse which was located on the Galesville square.
Galesville University opened with a Methodist connection which passed to Presbyterians in 1877.
In 1901 it became a Lutheran school called Gale College, offering a high school education and two years of college. The campus closed as a college in 1938. It was sold to the Marianist Brothers of St. Louis in 1941, who operated the campus as a novitiate until 1985 when it became an ecumenical retreat center.
Through all it’s years the school offered a vital music program. The Lutheran Gale College program was especially well known for programs in piano and voice. Also known for their music, the brothers who operated the Marynook novitiate purchased the vintage Hammond organ still in use.
The campus became an ecumenical retreat center from 1985 until 1995 when it was sold to the City of Galesville. Now it is operated by the Old Main Board of Galesville’s Garden of Eden Preservation Society. Our program of music, art, and history honors the Honorable Judge George Gale and his wife, Gertrude.
The school offered classes in piano, melodeon, and guitar even before its first building was completed. Classes began in 1859 in the first Trempealeau County courthouse which was located on the Galesville square.
Galesville University opened with a Methodist connection which passed to Presbyterians in 1877.
In 1901 it became a Lutheran school called Gale College, offering a high school education and two years of college. The campus closed as a college in 1938. It was sold to the Marianist Brothers of St. Louis in 1941, who operated the campus as a novitiate until 1985 when it became an ecumenical retreat center.
Through all it’s years the school offered a vital music program. The Lutheran Gale College program was especially well known for programs in piano and voice. Also known for their music, the brothers who operated the Marynook novitiate purchased the vintage Hammond organ still in use.
The campus became an ecumenical retreat center from 1985 until 1995 when it was sold to the City of Galesville. Now it is operated by the Old Main Board of Galesville’s Garden of Eden Preservation Society. Our program of music, art, and history honors the Honorable Judge George Gale and his wife, Gertrude.
Old Main Chronology
1854 - Wisconsin Legislature grants charter for Galesville University.
1857 - School trustees vote to erect a building.
1858 - Methodist Episcopal Church accepts the school.
1859 - Judge George Gale is elected president of the school faculty and professor of law.
1862 - Old Main, the school’s main building, is completed.
1863 - School opens on-campus after operating earlier in off-campus locations in Galesville.
1877 - The Presbytery of Chippewa, connected to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, takes over.
1890s - Name changed to Gale College.
1901 - Gale College and its property transferred to the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
1939 - Trustees vote to close the school permanently after mounting debts.
1941 - First Catholic brothers arrive after St. Louis Province of the Society of Mary purchases school as a novitiate to train young brothers and priests. It becomes Marynook, House of the Lord.
1973 - The novitiate moves to St. Louis, and the Galesville facility becomes a retreat center.
1985 - Society of Mary ends its support of the center, but volunteers raise enough money to keep it running.
1994 - Marynook Retreat and Conference Center closes June 30 after mounting debt.
1995 - City of Galesville buys 42 acres, including the college, for $150,000.
2000 - Garden of Eden Preservation Society obtains the building with a 50-year lease.
2008 - New Air Conditioning/Heating System
2013 - New sidewalk constructed leading from parking area to front door
1857 - School trustees vote to erect a building.
1858 - Methodist Episcopal Church accepts the school.
1859 - Judge George Gale is elected president of the school faculty and professor of law.
1862 - Old Main, the school’s main building, is completed.
1863 - School opens on-campus after operating earlier in off-campus locations in Galesville.
1877 - The Presbytery of Chippewa, connected to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, takes over.
1890s - Name changed to Gale College.
1901 - Gale College and its property transferred to the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
1939 - Trustees vote to close the school permanently after mounting debts.
1941 - First Catholic brothers arrive after St. Louis Province of the Society of Mary purchases school as a novitiate to train young brothers and priests. It becomes Marynook, House of the Lord.
1973 - The novitiate moves to St. Louis, and the Galesville facility becomes a retreat center.
1985 - Society of Mary ends its support of the center, but volunteers raise enough money to keep it running.
1994 - Marynook Retreat and Conference Center closes June 30 after mounting debt.
1995 - City of Galesville buys 42 acres, including the college, for $150,000.
2000 - Garden of Eden Preservation Society obtains the building with a 50-year lease.
2008 - New Air Conditioning/Heating System
2013 - New sidewalk constructed leading from parking area to front door