Communities

Like a fairy tale house

Hong Kong translator of Wanda Gag books visits her childhood home

The Wanda Gag House had a special visitor a few days ago.

Angie Lin, a children’s book translator who lives in Hong Kong, toured the Wanda Gag House with Wanda Gag House Association board member JoAnne Griebel.

Lin had previously translated a column about the house for a Chinese children’s magazine.

The column was written by Leonard Marcus, a historian of children’s literature in the United States. Lin translated the column for about two years for Meng, a children’s periodical published by Poplar Publishing in mainland China. 

The column introduced literary places in North America that focus on children’s literature, including museums, libraries and independent bookstores. One issue featured the Wanda Gag House at 226 N. Washington St.

“I learned of the article from Angie’s tour request,” Griebel said. “As a librarian I have ordered several books by Leonard Marcus.”

Lin said translating the column was an eye-opening experience. When she travels in the U.S., she tries to visit the places she translated about.

“I had visited bookstores in big cities like NYC and San Jose, but honestly I didn’t think I would have a chance to visit New Ulm,” Lin said.

That changed this summer. Lin’s elder son, Joey Ren moved to Minnesota to work as a documentary filmmaker focusing on art and culture. Lin said his place is not far from New Ulm.

“When my husband and I decided to visit him for the Labor Day weekend, it was only natural for me to request a visit to the Gag House,” Lin said.

Griebel gave the tour to Lin and her family.

Lin was born and raised in mainland China. She earned a master’s degree in communication from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and now lives in Hong Kong. She said she fell in love with picture books when raising her two boys.

“To this day I have translated dozens of picture books from English to Chinese, mostly published in mainland China,” Lin said. Some titles include “The Perfect Fit” by Naomi and James Jones, “Scooter Dog” by Lo Cole, “Sid and Sam” by Zehra Hicks and “A Human for Kingsley” by Gabriel Evans.

Lin said she goes into schools in Hong Kong to tell stories to children and hosts talks for parents about reading to children when they are young.

“Reading aloud to and with children sounds so simple, but it is so important to a child’s growth, especially for this generation of digital citizens,” she said.

At the Gag House, Griebel showed the family Wanda Gag’s early works and sandpaper art displayed in the parlor.

“Angie and her family were very interested in the house and the Gag family story,” Griebel said. “She called the house magical, a place that encouraged the imagination.”

Lin said the house looked like a fairy tale house in pictures and looked just as beautiful in person.

“A house with seven colors and with windows in seven shapes,” Lin said. “What a thoughtful and playful father Anton Gag was.”

Anton Gag built the Queen Anne Victorian house in 1894. He was a studio photographer and artist. His 1904 painting of the Battle of New Ulm hangs in the Minnesota State Capitol. He built the house for his wife Elisabeth, known as "Lizzie" and their seven children. 

Two of those children, Wanda and Flavia, became artists.

Wanda Hazel Gag was born in New Ulm in 1893. She published “Millions of Cats” in 1928. The book received a Newbery Honor in 1929. It is considered the first modern American picture book.

Griebel said the family enjoyed hearing about the children putting on plays and using the pocket doors to the dining room as a stage curtain. She said Anton striped cheaper wood to make it look more expensive. She showed them the friezes in the dining room and parlor and the plaster work upstairs.

“They viewed Anton’s photography studio,” Griebel said. “Family and wedding photos are on display, including some that Anton ‘photoshopped’ by adding some paint features.”

The children’s bedroom features Flavia Gag, the youngest of the Anton and Elisabeth Gag family. She was an artist, author and songwriter. The parents’ bedroom opens onto a turret.

“We enjoyed the view from there imagining we were at the edge of town,” Griebel said. “It was a focal point for photos.”

Griebel said they also saw treasures found under the attic floorboards. The Gag children played in the attic, especially on rainy days.

Lin said she noticed small doors in the attic, the living room where the children performed, scribbles the children left on the wall and the toy carousel their uncle made for them.

“Although the Gag family was not wealthy and had a lot of hardships, I could tell that art, freedom and love was floating around the house,” Lin said.

Lin said the Wanda Gag House stood out from other literary sites she has visited.

“Wanda Gag House stood out as not just a well preserved museum with lots of archives and historic artifacts, but it was Gag’s childhood home,” Lin said. “I could visualize and imagine how she and her siblings were drawing, playing, laughing together in this place. I believe her childhood experience and her family had a lot of influence on her pioneering artworks and successful career.”

In the Chinese market, Lin said “Millions of Cats” is Gag’s most well-known book. She said she owns Chinese versions of “Snippy and Snappy,” “Nothing At All” and “The Funny Thing.” “The ABC Bunny” was widely recognized in Hong Kong, she said.

Lin said she adores “The ABC Bunny” and recently visited the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota, where she saw a dummy book and drawings and prints Gag made to prepare for the book.

Griebel said Wanda’s art and books are known worldwide.

“It is rewarding to meet visitors from other countries and help share the story of the Anton Gag family,” Griebel said.

The house was divided into apartments after the family sold it in 1922. In 1988, the newly formed Wanda Gag House Association purchased it and restored it. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

It is open weekends mid-May through mid-October and is run by about 13 to 14 volunteers.

The Wanda Gag House Association will host children’s games at the Farmers Market this Saturday morning in the parking lot at 1315 S. Broadway St.

Upcoming association events include the GnomeMade Market at the Gag House on Nov. 6 and 7, and a booth at the Weihnachts Markt on Nov. 27.

For information, call 507-359-2632 or email wandagaghouse@gmail.com.