Judge George Gale went to college at the University of Vermont and moved to the western frontier in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the early 1850s.

[3] Gale ran the nonsectarian college until 1865 and the school floundered when his health deteriorated during his involvement in the American Civil War.

[7][8] The Society of Mary, Province of St. Louis purchased the buildings and 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land in 1941 for $10,000.

[11] The day celebrated Gale's founding of the school, his platting of Galesville, and his work to develop Trempealeau County.

[12] Volunteers are compiling the history of the area, building a digital database, and collecting local genealogy information.