For Tolzmanns, a century of painting

Photo by Cliff Buchan Terry Tolzmann is the man in charge at Tolzmann Painting. He is carrying on the tradition started by his father, Ray Tolzmann, and his grandfather, August Tolzmann. Here, he paints the fascia board on a boathouse on Manitou Island in White Bear Lake.

When it comes to painting as a profession, some are cut out for it; others are not.

Around Forest Lake and Wyoming, the Tolzmann family is now in its fourth generation of family members who have made their living by painting and paper hanging. Its a family tradition that goes back more than 100 years.

Officially, 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the familys involvement in the trade, but it probably started even earlier, said cousins Terry Tolzmann and Brian Tolzmann. Records from residential directors published in St. Paul in 1905 lists August Tolzmann, their grandfather, as a painter and paper hanger.

Family history also speculates that August Tolzmann was working in the profession, possibly as early as 1900 in St. Paul when he was 19.

No matter the number of years, it is clear painting is in the Tolzmanns blood and in particular in Terry Tolzmanns blood. He is the owner and operator of Tolzmann Painting today, a continuation of the business founded by his grandfather. It has been a business that has seen a host of Tolzmann men joining the ranks, but on scales that differ widely.

An early start

It was an early start in the business for Terry Tolzmann, the son of Ray Tolzmann. Terry was a sophomore in high school here in 1972 when he first took his turn with a paint brush.

He recalls his fathers command clearly to this day: Come on, schools out. You are coming with me, Ray Tolzmann barked to his son.

It was OK with me, Terry said. It was work. I helped him every summer after that.

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For Tolzmanns, a century of painting