The "The 'SoWe' Community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading one of my blog stories from October 6th when I published my first story telling about the area in Lancaster City known as Cabbage Hill.  It was so named for the German population who settled in the late 1700s within the boundaries of King, Prince, Seymour, Fairview, Manor and Pine Streets and grew gardens filled with cabbage which they made into sauerkraut.  

Eventually the area became known as the SoWe (South-West) neighborhood.  SoWe is a neighborhood revitalization effort led by Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP), its partners, and the residents of the southwest community and key stakeholders.  This body advises LHOP's board of directors on the implementation of the Southwest Lancaster Revitalization Strategy.  The Strategy identifies and prioritizes various neighborhood revitalization actions such as community safety, housing, parks, education and connections.  

Click to enlarge.

One of the actions that was taken by the SoWe group was to try and add some art and color to the neighborhood through the use of wall murals which was meant to build and foster a stronger sense of community through artistic images.  The idea was conceived by Two Dudes Painting Company with artists Amber Kane, Matthew Chapman and Jordan Yeager leading the way.  A large mural was painted on the side of the Two Dudes building with led to 27 mini-murals throughout the SoWe Neighborhood.   I have included a few of these murals so you can see the level of creativity and artistry that exists in Lancaster's SoWe community.  Truly amazing artwork!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The above six images were part of a display by Two Dudes Painting Company.

Corner of Lafayette and Filbert Streets. 

681 Manor Street.

Urban Rendition of Edward Hicks' The Peaceable Kingdom which is a Mosaic rather than a  mural.

Window artwork on the Water Street side of the Water Street Ministry. 

Mural on the Prince Street side of the Water Street Ministry. 

Mural known as "What Do You Want To Be" at the corner of Freemont and Laurel Streets.