Logan County IL Archives History - Books .....Murphy Hall 1953
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2007, 12:40 am

Book Title: A History Of Atlanta

MURPHY HALL

    Murphy Hall was erected in 1878 as the result of the temperance movement, it
being named for Father Murphy, the founder of the Father Murphy Total Abstinence
Society.

    On Sunday, October 21, 1877, the Murphy temperance movement was inaugurated
in Atlanta by Dr. Conway. Early in the history, the project of building a grand
hall for the temperance meetings was mentioned. In the latter part of December,
the project took definite shape, and a subscription stock list was drawn up and
circulated. Only a few days' canvassing made the building of the hall an assured
fact. To Frank Hoblit and P. R. Marquart, more than to any other two men, were
the people indebted for the success of the undertaking. On February 22, the
foundation was laid and from that time on the progress was rapid.

    The hall was a frame building, 90 feet long and 48 feet wide, with self
supporting roof. A stage, 20 feet deep, was built across the rear and raised 4%
feet high, giving room for dressing rooms and kitchen below. Four windows on
each side and two in front gave light and ventilation, and there were four
chimneys to accommodate as many stoves for heating.

    The building stood on Railroad street, between Vine and Elm, fronting the C.
& A. railroad tracks.

    The directors met on April 15 and set the date of the dedication for May 5,
1878. Invitations were sent to all the temperance people in the county to meet
with them, and the audience on that day numbered almost 1,400. The Hon. A. Brown
Bunn, of Decatur, was the speaker of the day.

    It was in Murphy Hall that many of our people made their first appearance
before the public in school entertainments. It was here that hundreds of our
young folks gave their commencement orations as a requirement for graduation; it
was here that Flora DeVoss and her dramatic company and Callahan's Comedians
entertained the Atlanta Fair week crowds; that Church's Minstrels packed the
house; that young folks danced and roller skated; that the churches held their
bazaars; the women served big election day dinners; and amateur thespians trod
the boards in home talent plays. Here, too, were held the political rallies in
the days when political rallies were taken seriously, and after the smoke of
battle had cleared, the results were given over a special telegraph wire to the
hall to those awaiting the outcome of the election. With the rise of basketball
as a high school indoor sport, the old hall became the scene of some hectic
encounters.

    Probably best remembered of the managers of the hall is the late Dr. B. I.
Pumpelly, who brought some fine attractions here with the winter entertainment
courses and the road stock companies. In connection with his management, many of
the older people will remember Addison Carter and his wife, Maggie, who acted as
janitors.

    At a meeting of the stockholders and directors of the Atlanta National Union
Temperance Association, held April 5, 1946, it was the concensus of opinion that
the old hall had outlived its usefulness and would be a liability rather than an
asset to the community in the future. It was voted to sell the building at
auction. The decision to remove the building was arrived at with reluctance, but
there seemed to be no other practical solution.

    The building had been used as a warehouse by the Mountjoy Hybrid Seed Co.
during the last years of its existence.

    The Murphy Hall building was sold at public auction, Saturday afternoon, May
11, 1946. The successful bidders at $2925 were George F. and Frank Snyder, of
Decatur.

    The site is now occupied by the Atlanta Food Locker, built by the Logan
County Cooperative Food Locker Co.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF ATLANTA 1853-1953

Prepared by Citizens of Atlanta
As a Part of the Observance of the
Centennial, June 11,12 and 13,1953

THE PUBLICATION IS SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA WOMAN'S CLUB

Atlanta, Illinois 1953

Published By
The Stewart - Pinks Publishing Co.
Atlanta, Illinois


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