“Sense of Place: Two Brothers Six Generations” – the 2019 Exhibit
The exhibit focused on the Murphy brothers Edward William (E.W.) and John Patrick. They owned a drug store on Congress Street (near Lincoln Park) in Portland at the turn of the 20th Century, and manufactured a cough syrup known as “Murphy’s Cough and Croup Balsam “. In 1904 they came to Long Island, with E.W. building several houses (the Box Cottage, the Balsamique, and the Green Camp) on the ocean side of the island and John Patrick purchasing several cottages on Island Avenue in the area now known as Gypsy Village. E.W. was known for his elaborate etchings, done on cigar boxes. In fact, the Box Cottage and the Balsamique both had cigar boxes used for the walls and ceilings. The Balsamique was built with a unique bowling alley and shuffleboard court in the main living area. You can see the removable flooring strips over the gutters in the photo below, as well as the cigar box panels on the ceiling.
Photo Credit: Murphy Calendar: Terry Horr; Interior of the Balsamique: Carol Connor; Cigar Box Etching: Carol Connor; Family Tree: LIHS Staff Photo
The Irish Ambassador Visits!
We are honored that the Ambassador to the US from the Republic of Ireland Daniel Mulhall and the Irish Consulate General of New England Laoise Moore visited us on Tuesday July 23rd as a part of their visit to Maine. Long Islanders gave them a rousing welcome, despite the rainy day. While here they visited the LIHS summer exhibit Sense of Place: Two Brothers Six Generations, (about the Murphy family on Long Island), had an opportunity to meet islanders at a reception in the Community Center, and were given a short tour of the island via golf cart. The finishing touch was a send-off on Steve Train’s lobster boat, The Wild Irish Rose. They have a standing invitation to come back to visit the island at any time!
Irish Consulate General Laoise Moore, Greta Mulhal, Republic of Ireland Ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall at the reception, with Murphy descendants in front of the family tree, and on the Wild Irish Rose lobster boat with Steve Train.
Photo credits: LIHS Staff