Category: default || By jt3y

Regular readers of the Almanac (those who eat a lot of bran and get daily exercise) and friends of Your Ob'd't Servant know that for the past two years and change, I've been writing a history of the G.C. Murphy Co.

Murphy's was a McKeesport-based retailer that grew from a handful of five-and-10s to a billion-dollar discount store chain with locations in 24 states before becoming a target of corporate raiders and being taken over in 1985.

Many of my friends have said, "I can't wait until your book is done," mostly so I'll shut up about it, and also because I've used it as an excuse over and over again. "Oh, sorry, I can't come over this weekend --- I'm working on the book." "Oh, I can't take on that project --- I'm working on the book." "Oh, I'm sorry I stole your car and crashed it into a swimming pool --- I'm working on the book."

But a few others have said, "I can't wait to read your book," to which I've replied, "Neither can I." The research largely wrapped up over the spring and summer, and then the writing process began --- I'm about one-third of the way done.

Until recently, though, I had no firm deadline to finish, because we didn't have a publisher. Unlike a few of my former cow-orkers who have written boffo manuscripts and thus scored great book deals, I don't have a particularly sexy subject.

I tried to work in some mob connections, but alas, Murphy's founders were teetotalling Methodists whose most gruesome secret might have been their sale of "Murphy Mix" candy in the 1920s. (It was stale and out-of-date bulk candy mixed together, with the rancid pieces plucked out. And it sold like nickel ice cream cones in July.)

A few people on the G.C. Murphy Company Foundation (which has underwritten the research) and some Murphy Company retirees even wondered whether we would find a publisher.

"Look," I said, "people have published hardcover books on American Motors and the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. I know, because I bought those books. Someone will publish this thing, and if not, I'll have H.B. South print it and sell the damned thing myself."

Well, it looks like I won't be writing any large checks to South (which does a bang-up job, by the way).

I am pleased and a little bit humbled to announce that Penn State University Press has tentatively agreed to publish For The Love of Murphy's: The Behind-The-Counter Story of a Great American Five-and-Dime, with a projected release date of fall 2008. I've just returned from State College, and things seem very promising.

A great deal of credit goes to Dr. Curtiss Porter, chancellor of Penn State McKeesport Campus, who took a personal interest in the project and (before we knew it) pitched it to the university press. Bless his heart, he got us in the door.

An enormous amount of credit goes to the many, many former G.C. Murphy employees and their relatives who have provided information, photos, hours and hours of their time, and several swift kicks-in-the-pants to keep the project moving forward.

And thank you to all of my friends and family who have provided encouragement, advice and (yes) several swift kicks-in-the-pants.

The bad news is that now I have to finish writing this dad-blasted thing, so be prepared for a lot more whining.

The manuscript is still in rough shape, but a number of chapters are shaping up. In celebration of this week's good fortune, I've decided to tease you with a sidebar from one of the chapters --- it's the story of Murphy's largely forgotten sponsorship of a racing team in the Indianapolis 500 from 1965 until 1971. (Download PDF.) Please be gentle.