The main building at Ellis Island was restored in 1990. The Barrow Mansion at 83 Wayne Street, was built for Dr. William Barrow in 1838. Originally there were two identical mansions, side by side, separated by a grassy lawn. One was torn down in the 1920's and the other is currently under restoration. From the porch of the mansion, a block away, one can view the artists' interpratation painted on the mural.
Violets are New Jersey's state flower.
The original Dixon Mills, where the Dixon Ticonderoga pencil was manufactured, is located 2 blocks west of the mural. The first buildings were constructed in 1827 and numerous others were added through 1916. In the 1980s the factory was converted into residential units. The pencil in the mural is 53 feet tall. An Explosion Of Color Brings Excitement To The Streetscape.