On Admiral Wilson Boulevard, a colorful look at East Camden

CAMDEN — The walls can't talk but they do tell a story at a building here.

A recently completed mural presents the story of East Camden on donated space at the headquarters of Bush Refrigeration on Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

The images of people and places reflect a neighborhood that's likely unknown to many motorists speeding past.

The mural provides a lesson in history and pride, and "a consistent reminder that there is greatness in Camden," said project manager Felix Moulier of St. Joseph Carpenters Society, one of the mural's sponsors.

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East Camden natives on the wall include a former mayor, Melvin "Randy" Primas, and football star Mike Rozier, as well as religious and community leaders.

The mural also recognizes community institutions, like the long-departed Arlo Theatre and Tarantini's, a family restaurant that brought deep-fried panzarotti to South Jersey.

And it prominently displays the year "1899," when the neighborhood — along with Cramer Hill — left the former Stockton Township to become part of Camden.

The Bush Refrigeration building previously "was plagued with graffiti," Moulier noted.

For instance, a double door on the boulevard — now decorated with a vibrant scene of flowers and a butterfly — earlier carried a spray-painted message, "MVC is a gang."

The graffiti sent the wrong message about Camden to passing motorists, said Mayor Vic Carstarphen.

"These folks, they're going to ride by now and see history," said Carstarphen, nodding toward the boulevard.

The artwork, which winds along three exterior walls, turned "blightness into brightness," the mayor declared.

Three local artists — Brein Mortez, Priscilla Rios and Donald Williams — worked for more than a year to complete the mural.

They faced challenges that included bad weather and vandalism, noted Rios. But she said the artists were spurred on by "the important meaning and message behind the mural."

"The mural is giving back to my community," said Mortez, an East Camden native like Rios. "It's getting to know who I am and where my roots are, not just being Guatemalan but being born here in Camden and knowing what that means, too."

The mural's also a gift to the thousands of people who use the boulevard to get to and from the Ben Franklin Bridge, Angel Fuentes, city council president, said at the ceremony.

"Camden now has its own gallery," he declared as traffic whizzed by. "And it's free!"

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.