Carmel Magazine

Many structures built by Michael J. Murphy in the early 20th century have been lovingly preserved and are in everyday use. Today, this building at Dolores and 7th Streets houses a popular restaurant on the main floor and residences above. T he year: 1910. William Howard Taft occupied the White House, grappling with the issues of the day while his predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt, was enjoying an African safari. The Cubbies made it to the World Series but fell to the Philadelphia Athletics 4-1. Halley's Comet was first observed, Barney Oldfield shattered the land speed record with a 131 mph run and the Boy Scouts of America were founded. And an enterpris- ing young Carmelite began building a business that's thriving to this day. The M.J. Murphy Lumber Company is quite possibly the oldest business in Monterey County. Founded in 1904, it's actually older than the city in which it was created: Carmel-by-the-Sea wasn't incorporated until 1916. Michael J. Murphy was responsible for the design and construction of hundreds of Peninsula-area homes and some of Carmel's most iconic commercial structures, including the original Highlands Inn, Harrison Memorial Librar y, Carmel City Hall, Tickle Pink Inn, the Hacienda at Rancho San Carlos, La Playa Hotel and the Carmel Ar t Association. His firm remodeled the Pine Inn after moving the building (previously the Carmelo Inn) from its original location higher up Ocean Avenue. He also supplied the materials—including 1.3 million board feet of lum- ber—for the world-famous, gracefully arched Bixby Creek Bridge. Murphy is known as "The Man Who Built Carmel," and if ever a guy is 214 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 4

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