Artist Jean Mohr, Muncy PA

 

Eugene "Jean" Mohr 1877-1962

Cartoonist, Illustrator, & Artist, from Muncy PA.  After working on publications in Philadelphia and New York, Mohr returned to Muncy where he painted murals in  a variety of local buildings, frequently  in exchange for food and drinks.

Eugene "Jean" Noble Mohr was born April 30th  1877, the son of William and Emma [Noble] Mohr of Muncy.  William E. Mohr was one of the youngest drummer boys in the civil war.  Following President Lincoln's assassination, William Mohr was one of the honor guards to watch over the body.  Emma [Noble] Mohr was the daughter of one of Muncy's most successful merchants.

The Mohr's lived in the Noble home, at 217 North Main Street in Muncy.  The house would later be torn down, and the fire company social hall built on the site.  Today it's the location for Basil restaurant.

Rose on a metal drum lid, by Jean Mohr

The HOLC Facebook page wrote: "Jean (1877-1961) was born into Muncy’s lumber and mercantile royalty, the only child born to William and Emma (Noble) Mohr, a socially prominent couple.  He was reared in the Noble family’s 13-room North Main Street mansion, and while most of the family’s wealth had been squandered, or lost during the depression, Jean’s parents spared no expense when it came to his education, sending him to art schools in New York City and in Paris. As a young man he dressed in fashion’s finest attire, and in the 1930s, many Muncy residents remember his “stunning” bright red Cord convertible, an expensive vehicle in its day!"

In the early 1900s, Jean lived in Philadelphia and New York, with his  cartoon illustrations to the Inquirer, North American, New York Post, Good Housekeeping and he worked in the studio of Charles Dana Gibson, creator of the Gibson girl for Life Magazine.

Grange News Agency, Oil on Canbas by Jean Mohr

According to an article in the Muncy Luminary in 2012 Mohr met and married a beautiful young model, "but when he brought her back home to Muncy, his domineering mother put an end to the marriage and sent her on her way." [I could find no record of a marriage]

In 1907, the Miltonian reported that Jean N. Mohr of New York City "will remain in Muncy to continue the fire insurance agency of his father, the late W. E. Mohr."  

It does not appear that was the case, as for the next decade the papers regularly reported on his visits home to his mother.  In the 1920 census he was in the Muncy Census, where he  gave his occupation as artist, and in  1930, still in Muncy,  as a  Magazine Illustrator.  

Noble/Mohr Home, 217 North Main Street, Muncy

Several articles about the Mohr family mention their declining financial circumstances, and note that the family home was damaged, and not well repaired, in the 1936.  Jean's mother died in 1942.  According to her death notice, "she died in the house in which she was born."  

The Muncy Luminary reported: "Townspeople rarely saw him sober. He gave up his career as an illustrator and most of his work was done in taverns and restaurants to pay for food and liquor.

Mohr's Easel, in his kitchen.

Neighbors said he lived in his kitchen for the last seven years of his life. A cot was located just a few feet away from his easel. He only got up to paint or to throw a log onto the fire that was nearby. Edward Grenoble and his wife, Eva, cared for him during his last few years, bringing him food and warm clothing."

Jean turned to religion in his later years, and drew pictures for the nurses when he was hospitalized at Muncy Valley hospital. He died just shy of his 85th birthday, on April 3rd 1962. He is buried in Muncy Cemetery. His grave was unmarked until 1984 Mrs. Jane Jackson bought him a headstone carved by Douglas Hayhurst.

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MURALS

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2012 Article in the Muncy Luminary

A number of Mohr's works were in the basement of the building at 1 North Main Street in Muncy.  Many were destroyed in the 1972 flood, but the two above, according to a 2021 article in the Muncy Luminary, were saved and were part of an art walk in Muncy that year.

Runaway Boat - mural in the Muncy Opera House

At the Muncy Historical Society: "Lining the front stairway wall is the Jean Mohr Collection which includes examples of his work in pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and oil."

At the former Glen Mawr House and Hotel

• Muncy Opera House
• 1 North Main Muncy Pa
• Fort Brady Hotel
• Ashurst Manor [mentioned in obituary]
• [former] Mawr Glen Hotel
• Hillsgrove Hotel
• Mid-Pen Telephone Building [could not be saved]
• ” Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven,” formerly of the now dismantled Methodist-Episcopal Church near White Hall.
• The Good Shepherd' at the Point Bethel Church near Mawr Glen 
• Waterfalls at the Baptist Church at White Hall
• “Jesus Praying in Gethsemne,” at the Moreland Community Church, (formerly Lutheran)

High Hat Club Mural in Hillsgrove Hotel

Barrel/Kegs in tavern (on plaster, removed from corner Main & Water Streets) 

Article at the bottom of the age under READ MORE

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CARTOONS

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Sallie Slick and her Surprising Aunt Amelia ran for one year in the Philadelphia North American -  May 4 1902 to April 26 1903. 

The Easy Edgar series ran for only five episodes in the Philadelphia North American between November 23 1902 and May 3 1903. 

ALSO:

• 1903, Oct 25 Philadelphia Press - half a dozen illustrations representing events of the past week

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READ MORE
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1901

Dec. 5, page 2: Eugene Mohr, who is in the Art department of the Philadelphia Inquirer, was the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Mohr, the past few days.

1906 

Jean home for the holidays

1907

Nov. 15, page 8: Jean M. [sic] Mohr, the well known cartoonist, one of the art staff of a New York daily, has decided to make Muncy his permanent home. Mr. Mohr will continue to sketch for the New York papers, and will also manage the insurance business of his late father, W. E. Mohr.

 1908 

Jean spending a week in New York City

 1909 

Jean lived in Avon-By-The-Sea NJ, visited his mother in October 1909

 1910

 "Jean Mohr, a staff artist of Good Housekeeping returned to New York yesterday after spending a few weeks with his mother Mrs Emma Mohr"

Feb. 8, page 3: A number of excellent illustrations in the current issue of Good Housekeeping were drawn by Jean Mahr  whose home is at this place [Muncy].

 1911 

July - "Jean N. Mohr, a staff artist of Good Housekeeping, a well known New York City Magazine, is at present spending a vacation with his mother Mrs Emma Mohr.

 "Jean Mohr has gone to Philadelphia where he will spend the winter"

 1914 

Jean N. Mohr of Philadelphia is home to spend Easter with his mother, Mrs Emma N. Mohr.

 1916

 "Jean Mohr is able to be out again after being confined to his home on North Main street by illness

Mohr's House Boat