Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1920, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Our new addition at home is nearly completed. It has certainly hung along with the cold weather.”
The new addition was to the back of the house, extending the kitchen. On Jul 19, 2019, I sat in that addition, enjoying a cup of tea with the current homeowners. My unanticipated stop was on a return trip from Philadelphia that month. I had a little extra time on my drive that day and decided to visit the Oak Park neighborhood.
Although I have written about Moses’ Oak Park home before, here is a brief recap.
Thomas and Ella Moses began house hunting in Chicago at the beginning of 1893, soon selecting a home in the western suburb of Oak Park. Located on S. Euclid Ave, the structure was only a year old and spacious enough to accommodate four children, ranging in age from four to fourteen. Of their new home, Moses commented, “very fine wood-work, a large stable, driveway, and a 60 x 178 feet lot.” They purchased the house for $8,575.00, today’s equivalent of approximately $230,000. 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. He recalled that their new home provided plenty of room to entertain World Fair visitors.
I wanted to visit Moses’ Oak Park home since I first read about it as an undergraduate student. The Oak Park and Forest Park area, suburbs located immediately west of Chicago, were home to many Chicago artists who commuted to the city. Never dreaming that it was still standing, I was surprised when the address popped up in google maps and I zoomed in from the satellite view. From 1893-1934 Oak Park was home for the Moses family. Only from 1900-1904 did the couple rent the house out when they temporarily moved to New York, where Moses established the short-lived scenic studio Moses & Hamilton. Although they also spent a few winters in Oakland, California, Oak Park remained their primary residence.
On the morning of July 19, 2019, I pondered whether to drive to Moses’ Oak Park home or venture north to Fox Lake where the Palette & Chisel Club built a summer camp. I decided on Oak Park, as I could also stop by a nearby cemetery to document some scenic artist graves. It was ridiculously hot that day and darting out of my car to look at gravestones seemed preferable. Moses’ one-time business partner, Walter Burridge, was buried in Forest Home Cemetery. On my drive I contemplated if I should venture up to the front door and make contact with the current owners. As I was traveling alone and the home was in an unknown area, I remained undecided until I pulled up in front of the house. In the end, I summoned up enough courage to knock on the door.
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 a few 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 the sign “All are Welcome” and heaved a sigh of relief. My knock triggered a chorus of dogs, and I began to wonder if someone was actually home. As I began to ponder my decision, the door slowly opened. I was greeted by a smiling woman about my age. I was there for almost two hours. My grand tour ended with a cup of tea in the 1920-addition off the kitchen and a gift – a music CD; one of the daughters has a band.
After visiting Moses’ home, I stopped by Forest Lake cemetery and the drove southwest toward Moses’ hometown of Sterling, Illinois. The part of my visit that continued to play in the back of my mind was my ascent to the attic space that was once Moses’ studio. Standing in the same space where he painted hundreds of artworks, some of which I own, was absolutely magical. Sometimes, you experience a brief moment that verifies you’re traveling on the right path. It’s like getting a thumb’s up from the universe. Stopping by Moses’ Oak Park home and studio brought closure to one road on my journey, a respite from what often seems to be an insurmountable mountain of research.
There was still an abundance of artwork in Moses’ old home. Sharing stories and laughter with the current residents brought a moment of peace.
To be continued…
