It seems someone has already spread holiday cheer through Pequot Lakes ahead of Santa’s visit later this month.

To the delightful surprise of many Pequot Lakes business owners, a “secret gnome” made the rounds Thanksgiving night and left many with a whimsical painting of a gnome with their business’ name and an encouraging message on the back, signed with a heart and the words “the secret gnome.”

“The next year will be your best year ever! Positive changes bring happiness,” says the message on the back of the gnome hanging just inside the door at Lakes Latte on Government Drive.

“This gnome will bring success and happiness to all who work here,” says the message at Glenda’s Beauty Salon on Butler Street.

The message for Jack Schmidt’s Outdoorsmen’s Barber Shop reads: “This gnome will bring you good luck through 2022. Happy holidays.”

Both signs hang in the entryway to the salon and barbershop.

“I don’t know who’s doing it, but I think it’s so awesome. They’re so cute,” said Glenda Schmidt, beauty salon owner. “It’s so appreciated. Whoever’s doing it, I want to say thank you.”

Barb Merritt, owner of Merritt Jewelers on Front Street with her husband, Don, is one of a few who discovered the secret gnome’s identity.

“I arrived Friday morning (after Thanksgiving) and saw the gnome zip-tied to our door. I did wonder who would do this?” Merritt said via email. “I have my gnome hung on the wall by my coffee bar so everyone is sure to see it! I love surprises and gifts!”

Her message on the back reads: “This gnome brings good health, happiness and success to all who work here! Best year ever ahead.”

The secret gnome’s genuine love of Pequot Lakes spurred the idea to create the artworks and secretly leave them around town.

“My inspiration really came from making them the year before for my nieces and then wanting to do something nice for my little town of Pequot,” she said. “It makes you feel good to get a compliment, and I believe everything I wrote.”

Her enthusiasm is also genuine. Staying anonymous at first because she didn’t want to draw attention to herself, the artist eventually agreed to share her identity.

“I didn’t do it for a thank you. I was proud when I saw them hanging on the wall and they said it meant a lot to them,” said the secret gnome - Lesa McQuaid, a Pequot Lakes resident who moved here from California a year ago with her husband, Dan.

“It just turned into kind of a fun thing,” McQuaid said.

After living in large cities where people knew their neighbors but not their towns, McQuaid has absolutely fallen in love with Pequot Lakes. She and Dan moved here because her sister and brother-in-law - Melissa and Jay Chaney - live here.

“My husband and I just think this is the coolest town. I love how quaint it is and how everybody knows everybody,” said McQuaid, who works at the Pequot Lakes American Legion.

She’s enjoyed getting to know people through her work, as well as through shopping and banking locally. So she wanted to do something to brighten the days of those who have done that for her.

McQuaid made a few gnomes each night and then applied shellac - something she hadn’t done when she made her original artworks for her three nieces.

“Oh my gosh, it came out so cute when I shellacked it,” she said.

McQuaid created a gnome for Merritt Jewelers because they’d fixed her ring. She previously worked at Fun Sisters so she did one for that store, and then for the Legion.

A few gnomes suddenly blew up to 30.

The secret gnome had help zip-tying the artworks to businesses’ front doors Thanksgiving night - her husband and friends Anna and Brandon from the Legion.

“It just was fun, is what it was,” McQuaid said. “I love doing art.”

Nancy Vogt may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.

1/6: Lesa - the secret gnome - and Dan McQuaid moved to Pequot Lakes a year ago and fell in love with the quaint town. Contributed (December 2021)

2/6: Lesa McQuaid made 30 gnomes for Pequot Lakes businesses as a way to show her appreciation for them. Contributed (December 2021)

3/6: Many downtown Pequot Lakes businesses were the recipients of the secret gnome artworks, courtesy of Lesa McQuaid, who moved to Pequot Lakes a year ago from California. Contributed (December 2021)

4/6: The secret gnome (Lesa McQuaid) and friends zip-tied this gnome to the door handle at Weise Crafts on Front Street in Pequot Lakes. Contributed (December 2021)

5/6: Barb Merritt found this gnome zip-tied to the front door at Merritt Jewelers on Front Street in Pequot Lakes on Friday morning, Nov. 26, 2021. Contributed

6/6: The gnomes are all different styles and specialized for each Pequot Lakes business they were made for. Contributed (December 2021)