George Haushalter

George Haushalter (1862-1943) is known in the Rochester area for his religious paintings hanging in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Averill Ave., as well as pieces in other galleries, homes, and churches around the city. He was born in Maine and spent his youth in Europe, studying at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His work impressed Rochestarian J. Sherlock Andrews, who commissioned him to create paintings for the St. Andrew's Church. Haushalter moved to Rochester and continued to create work for other churches and wealthy Rochesterians. He was a member of the Rochester Art Club and the American Watercolor Society. He is also known for introducing the Rochester community to the burning of Christmas trees on Twelfth Night, a tradition he started in 1932. Haushalter taught classes at Iola, and in 1939 his work was shown at the Brodhead Gallery. After his death in 1943, a memorial exhibition was shown by the Rochester Historical Society.