Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Thomas G. Moses and Oak Park, Illinois, July 19, 2019

Thomas and Ella Moses began house hunting in Chicago at the beginning of 1893. A few months later, they selected a home in the western suburb of Oak Park, Illinois. The S. Euclid Ave structure was only a year old and spacious enough to accommodate four young children.  At thirty-seven years old, “Tom” and Ella had four children William “Pitt,” Mary Titcomb, Thomas “Rupert,” and Lillian Ella were ages fourteen, twelve, seven, and four. Moses was thirty-seven years old and at the top of his profession; life was really looking up.

Moses wrote that their new home had “very fine wood-work, a large stable, driveway, and a 60 x 178 foot lot.”  They bought the house for $8,575.00, today’s equivalent of $222,238.22, a substantial sum.  Although the amount was much more than the couple wanted to pay, Moses wrote that it appealed to them as no other one had. He had a perfect spot for a home studio with plenty of light. His studio was located in the attic with a high ceiling and ample room to hang pictures. 

Years later, his grandchildren would recall being told not to bother their grandpa when he was painting, yet they still managed to escape to the third floor.  Opening the attic door and venturing up steep steps, they were never reprimanded, just given a small project to keep them busy.

The Moses family moved into their new home on May 1, 1893 – the same day that the Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago.  Moses recorded that their new home provided plenty of room to entertain World Fair visitors. There are extant photographs that depict the interior of their Oak Park home. In one, Moses sits in front of an easel in his third-floor studio. Paintings, statues, masks, and art supplies surround him, capturing a moment in the life and times of Thomas G. Moses.  There was painted ornament in almost every nook and cranny of the home.

I have wanted to visit Moses’ Oak Park home since I first read about it.  The Oak Park and Forest Park area, suburbs located immediately west of Chicago, were home to many Chicago artists who commuted to the city. When my trip home from Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to pass through Oak Park and see the neighborhood.

Until Moses’ passing in 1934, Oak Park remained his home. The only time that he and Ella did not live in there was when they temporarily moved to New York from 1900 until 1904. Although they spent time on the West Coast too, Oak Park was the primary home to Ella and the children, hosting seasonal gatherings for family and friends. While living in New York for the four short years, Moses found renters for the Oak Park house. In 1900, he wrote, “I didn’t regret going east; but we did miss our Oak Park home.”

On the morning of July 19, 2019, I planned my drive to Moses’ home and a nearby cemetery. Moses’ one-time business partner, Walter Burridge, was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in the nearby suburb of Forest Park. As I pulled off at the Oak Park exit, I closely examined the houses as the navigational system directed my to S. Euclid Avenue.  I had already looked at the Moses’ home in Google maps, so knew the color and exterior of the home.

All morning I contemplated actually going up to the house, knocking on the door and introducing myself to the current owners. Risky move, as I was unsure of the area or the people that I may meet. Times are different and doors do not always open to reveal a smiling face. I realized that I would have to quickly explain that I was not selling a product or peddling any particular religion, before explaining my interest in their house. At least my visit wasn’t occurring during an election season.

As I walked up the front steps, it was hard not to think of the many artists who ascended these same steps throughout the duration of Moses’ life, his close friends who stopped by to chat or discuss an upcoming project. I recalled one particular instance when his close Palette & Chisel Club friends came over to examine the 300+ paintings in his attic studio, convincing him to do a one-man show.

When I reached the front door, I noticed to signs – “We still stand with Standing Rock” and “All are Welcome.”  I heaved a huge sigh of relief as all trepidation evaporated. I looked at the decommissioned doorbell and decided to knock, but not too loud. A chorus of dogs responded to my knocking, and then the door slowly opened.  I smiled at a woman about my own age and explained, “I’m not some nut off the street…”

Almost two hours later, I left the home.  As expected, I got teary eyed when I entered Moses’ old studio on the third floor. There is still so much history and such a wonderful energy about the space.  I can see why this would be the perfect paint studio for Moses or any artist. There is so much more to the story of my visit, but I can’t bring myself to share. For now, I just want to keep it close and reflect on both the details and newfound friends.

My grand tour ended with a cup of tea and a copy of her daughters’ music CD.  In exchange for the hospitality and gift, I left my copy of “The Santa Fe Scottish Rite: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theater.” One chapter includes a lot of information about Moses’ life and his work at Sosman & Landis. It was the least I could do, especially after my host invited me to stay at their home anytime I came to Chicago. The family is perfect fit for the Moses home.

There is that moment when fate intervenes and you encounter people who make your entire journey better, enriching your life, even if it is just for a moment.  I have been fortunate over the course of my studies and career to be repeatedly blessed with meeting so many positive personalities; they always overshadow any negative individual or situation that I encounter.  Stopping by the Moses’ old home and meeting the current residents was absolutely magical and made me reflect how lucky I am in my own journey.

To be continued…