A&M Pizza Mural: Stop No. 8

The Story

The A&M Pizza mural was the idea of Anthony, the owner of the restaurant. Manheim Central High School’s state football championship in 2003 was a significant and memorable event in his life, and he wanted to commemorate this achievement on the walls of his restaurant. Plus, it was exactly 20 years since the championship, so the timing was ideal.

But the subject matter wasn’t just about the championship. He also wanted to include important historical buildings of the town of Manheim. He enlisted Horst Arts Center to lead this project. They chose to create a layout of the town that imagines a scenario where all of the landmark buildings surrounded one square—with the football field in the center. A three-quarter aerial view was chosen in order to depict multiple sides of each building and to portray depth.

On the football field, the winning moment of the “Snow Bowl” game is depicted when Manheim Central’s Shawn Wilt blocked an extra point attempt by a Pine-Richland High School player in double overtime, allowing them to win with a score of 39-38. The Barons became Division AAA state champions that night at Hersheypark Stadium.

Rather than disturb the ambiance of the restaurant, Horst Arts created the mural on a series of six plywood panels which were painted both in their studio at 17 North Main Street in Manheim and in their home.