Sommer, Ulrich

• Sommer, John

Ulrich was born on November 9, 1926 likely in east Germany. He was raised on his family’s farm in Saxony, Germany. He married Gisela Höpken and together they had two children; Cornelius and Angelika. For an unknown reason, Ulrich’s father was dispossessed of the family farm. In search of a better quality of life, Ulrich immigrated to Canada along with this wife and children in 1954 and settled in Georgetown, Ontario.

In Georgetown, Ulrich initially worked as a farmhand and tried to raise chickens on his own property. Around 1960, he accepted a job working as a foreman in a small enamel factory which provided him with steady working hours and better pay.

In 1962, Ulrich and his wife purchased a house at 45 Charles Street in Georgetown, Ontario. The house featured adjoining rooms, a large basement, and backyard. On Saturday, July 21, 1962 Ulrich opened his own art gallery called Gallery House Sol. The gallery was located inside Ulrich’s home in Georgetown, Ontario.

For more than 40 years, Ulrich collected and displayed contemporary Canadian art including paintings, sculptures, prints and more in his gallery. He was a true advocate for the arts and remained a prominent figure in his local community throughout his life. Eventually, the art works owned by Gallery House Sol were donated or sold to various museums, galleries, and private collectors.

Ulrich died on April 2, 2018.

Georgetown, Ontario

Created by NM in July 2018.

• English