Category: Murals

“Mossdale Crossing” is our 32nd mural, located on the wall of the Spin Cycle in the 100 block of East Yosemite Ave. The latest mural depicts the historic railroadFINAL link of the 1800 mile Transcontinental Railroad at the San Joaquin River on Sept. 8, 1869. The mural was a Mural-in-weekend project during the Manteca Centennial 2019 Celebration, bringing together community members to paint and assist with the completion of the mural under the direction of muralist, Dave Gordon. The Golden spike celebration taking place at Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869 was not the true completion of the transcontinental railroad. That only connected the east to Sacramento. The work on the bridge crossing the San Joaquin River at the small settlement of Mossdale had not been completed until Sept. 8, 1969.

The Korean War was declared June 25, 1950 but it was never finalized. That feeling still persists for those who fought and those who lived through this conflict. Alvin Mendes pictured in the lower right photo is the only Mantecan still listed as MIA…but he is not forgotten ….

This mural was designed to honor men and women from Manteca who have served our country in the Armed Forces, during World War II. It includes portraits of local veterans and civilians who supported the war effort. The five blue stars at the bottom of the mural and the one gold star at the top of the mural have significant meaning. During WWII the practice of displaying the Blue Star Flag was to honor those serving in the Armed Forces. Manteca had the honor of having five brothers serving in WWII. The Gold Star is displayed if a service member is killed in action or dies in service. During a time when Manteca had a population of less than 5000, it is stunning the hundreds of citizens that entered into World War II. This mural was designed to honor the men and women from Manteca who served our country in the Armed Forces as well as those at home who supported the war effort. Our WWII mural features 8 young veterans from Manteca who served during the war; Bud Dickman was an Ace Pilot in the US Army Air Corps, Bill Castillo was in the US Army, Leland Elliott, served in the US Marine Corps, Marie Huarte Esteves served in the US Navy Reserve Waves, John Machado was in the US Navy, Avis Brewster was an US Army Air Corps nurse, Jay Scalf served in the US Coast Guard, and Woodrow Brumley was in the US Merchant Marines. Doris Williams Knodt, a civilian, supported the home front by making parts for the B-17 bomber. Also featured is Rosie the Riveter, a cultural icon, representing the women who worked in the factories and shipyards during WWII. The five blue stars at the bottom of the mural and the one gold star at the top of the mural have significant meaning. During WWII the practice of displaying the Blue Star Flag was to honor those serving in the Armed Forces. Manteca had the honor of having five Duran brothers serving in WWII. The Gold Star is displayed if a service member is killed in action or dies in service. Of the people pictured in the mural, John Machado was killed in the Pacific and left behind a Gold Star family. Like small towns across America, Manteca’s support and participation in World War II was phenomenal..

This mural is a salute to the service and the sacrifices of men and women in the War on Terror. It depicts a grieving group of soldiers supporting each other as they mourn the loss of a fellow soldier. It is a very touching composition that says what we are all feeling; pride in our efforts and a hope that no one is forgotten. What do you say to a friend whose son or daughter has died in the war on terror? Muralist, Jessie Marinas, made his statement in a painting because he could not find the words to tell his friend how he felt. This mural is a salute to the service and the sacrifices of men and women in the War on Terror. It depicts a grieving group of soldiers supporting each other as they mourn the loss of a fellow soldier. It is a very touching composition that says what we are all feeling; pride in our efforts and a hope that no one is forgotten.

“Water Brings Abundance” by Colleen Mitchel-Veyna shows a plentiful autumn harvest. This bountiful harvest was brought about by the foresight of the local farmers coming together to build dams and an irrigation system that supplied water for irrigation. The combination of rich soil, bright sunny days and irrigation water allowed the production of a wealth of agricultural products.

“Pioneer Spirit” by Jessie Marinas tells of the struggles of the pioneers in this area. Although the soil was rich, the farmers had only a short rainy season during the winter. Most of the families survived on “dry farming” and the raising of livestock. The cutting and selling of timber also allowed them to keep their families fed. This summertime image shows the tough lifestyle that sustained many of the communities in this area.

“Last At Bat” is a mural that commemorates the location that is today Library Park. During the depression, William R. Perry, Sr, with the help of his friend Benton Hooper made this land into a baseball diamond and for many years it was a local spot for entertainment and competition. The women’s team would play at 5pm and the men’s teams would follow at 7:30pm. This historical depiction shows a scene that would be typical for that time. The Women’s baseball team is finalizing their game as the men, who will play next, watch. All of the people in the stands were individually painted Ella Yates & Dave Gordon as part of a fundraiser for the Manteca Mural Society. Local people sent in photos & $25 to have their image, or that of a family member placed in the stands. In addition, there are images of local historical figures such as Milo Candini, a local boy that became a professional ballplayer & William R Perry, Sr mentioned above. This mural is 95’ x 7.5’ and was dedicated October 7, 2012.

“Early Industry” by Brian Romagnoli is a composite of the different industries that developed, mostly due to agricultural production, lumber and transportation. It is done in Art-Deco style, appropriate for the era and in the winter colors of our area.