Clean Start: Millville’s historic Ivory Soap mural gets refreshed

Millville’s Ivory Soap mural, located at the north entrance of High Street, is an important visual landmark in our community. The mural connects us to our past—to an earlier version of the Millville that was. Although we are surrounded by inevitable change and development in our community, Millville’s Ivory Soap mural is a clear and visible link to our regional history. The next generations that grow up in Millville will have the opportunity to walk, bike, or drive past this visual clue to Millville’s earliest days.

Millville’s historic Ivory Soap mural is not just an old advertisement or billboard; it is a work of art. Millville’s Ivory Soap mural was handpainted in a period of three days sometime between 1910 and 1920, making it more than 100 years old today. The mural served as an early advertising billboard for one of America’s oldest products—Procter & Gamble Ivory Soap. Millville’s Ivory Soap mural is an example of one of the earliest advertised American products from the turn of the last century.

Millville’s Ivory Soap mural was restored in 1996. Now after almost 30 years, the same historic advertising received another facelift, returning the mural to its original grandeur.

Millville-based visual artist and gallery owner Danielle Cartier most recently restored the historic Ivory Soap mural in August 2025 during a period of two weeks. Cartier has an extensive background in public art and is the owner of DC Gallery & Studio, the building on which the mural rests. Cartier was eager to restore this visual artifact in our community and be directly involved in the restoration and painting process.

The 2025 Ivory Soap mural restoration funding was provided by Holly City Development Corporation and the Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission. A special thank you to the Millville Historical Society for assisting in research for this project.