- City:
- Emerson, NJ
- Site Type:
- Art Works, Murals
- New Deal Agencies:
- Arts Programs, Federal Arts Project (FAP)
- Started:
- 1938
- Completed:
- 1939
- Artists:
- Haring, R Hirt
- Marked:
- Yes
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
The historic Emerson Borough Hall houses numerous (11) examples of New Deal artwork commissioned by the Federal Art Project (FAP).
“Three of the murals are located in the Lower Level Conference Room; one in the Gun Room; one in the Radio Room; four in the two previously utilized jail cells, now part of the Evidence Locker; and one large mural in the former stage area.”
The murals, listed on the Certification of Eligibility, are:
- Located on the basement level in the former fireman’s lounge:
— “Call back the years”
— “All right you guys, break it up”
— “Pepe’s Gang”
— “Firefighters of the Gay Nineties”
— Untitled mural featuring an octopus - Located on the basement level in the former jail cell:
— “The World’s Meanest: the hit-and-run driver, Version 1”
— “The World’s Meanest: the hit-and-run driver, Version 2”
— “Don’t Mix – Alcohol and Gas: Modern Conditions demand clear thinking …, Version 1”
— “Don’t Mix – Alcohol and Gas: Modern Conditions demand clear thinking …, Version 2” - Located on the second floor, in the former community room, now a storage area:
— “The Stage” - A mural of unknown subject that was covered over when the fireplace was covered
Source notes
State of New Jersey: Certification of Eligibility for New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places: https://www.emersonnj.org/vertical/sites/%7B3CE7C79E-1CDE-42D4-BE99-DEDBCE95F9A4%7D/uploads/NJDEP_Certification_of_Eligibility_K_Marcopul_No_address_3-29-18(1).pdf
Building plaque; site visit to view/photograph the murals.
Site originally submitted by Jill McGuire on January 15, 2017.
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