Gustave Fisher 1933 murals
If walls could talk, I believe they would say, "Hallelujah" in this home. The interior walls of 214 Edgewood Avenue are unlike those of any other house in Trafford. What makes this home unique is the collection of five religious-themed murals that decorate the walls. The paintings are in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and two of the bedrooms, painted by artist Gustave Fisher in 1933.
In 1930, John & Veronica Sorokach (Sorokacs) were renting on Cavitt Ave, living in their apartment with three children, with one on the way, when they purchased the lot on Edgewood Avenue. John was working as a laborer for the Pennsylvania Railroad at the time, so it’s remarkable to consider that he was able to build this dwelling during the depression years, and just a few years later, have these beautiful works of art adorn the walls of their family home. We learned recently from Mrs. Geraldine Sorokacs, who lived in the home for a brief time with her husband Mike Sorokacs, that Gustave Fisher was a friend of the family, but she did not know if these paintings were commissioned or if they were a gift by the artist. There was a sixth painting located in one of the bedrooms, but after it incurred water damage, the mural was covered over before the current owners even moved into the home.
Gustave Fisher, aka Gusztáv Fischer, was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1894 to parents Ágoston & Alojzia Fischer. He immigrated to the United States in 1921, arriving with his wife Anna, and their two-year-old daughter Elza. Gustav declared his intent to become a United States citizen in 1926 and listed his occupation as “painter.” In 1930, he and his family were living in North Braddock when the census worker recorded him as a self-employed painter, specifically, in the building industry. In 1948, his wife Anna passed away prematurely at the age of 52, and two years later he remarried Mary Martha DuVall. On the marriage application with Mary, he listed his father’s occupation as “Church Painter,” a good indication of how Gustave may possibly have learned his trade, but it also provides a clue into better understanding the artist behind these beautiful Trafford murals. If you have any information about the artist, please contact us or share it in a post, we are certain the homeowners would appreciate the history.
Thank you, Gina Marinelli & Matt Nauyalis, for allowing us an opportunity to share these murals with the public. We are also grateful to Mrs. Sorokas for sharing her photographs of her husband Mike and his mother Veronica.
