Reverend Hester and the Fire Department

Reverend Hester and the Fire Department by artist Parris Stancell was located in the Glenwood neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The mural tells the story of a neighborhood, its history, struggles, dreams. Artist Parris Stancell attended many meetings with community residents and was deeply moved by the strength and determination of the residents to stay and face the problems in the area head on. They clearly loved the neighborhood and felt a strong sense of duty and commitment to the community. The mural is about darkness and light, pain, and redemption and shows us that in the midst of pain, there is hope. This hope is found in the people of the community, the neighbors, police, fire fighters, and members of the clergy who work together to make the world a better place. The artist hopes that the mural will inspire both young and old people to fight negative forces and to be a testimony of the courage and dedication of the people in the neighborhood.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (painted out in 2012).