Murphy gets a blast from town’s past
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Before the state’s Stay-at-Home Order was enacted last month, downtown Murphy was filled with vehicles on a daily basis. The traffic flow is going to change. Phot by Sam Jokich -
This historical photo shows the Bull Moose Pen and roundabout that existed in the center of downtown Murphy prior to the summer of 1952.
Murphy - History often repeats itself. State and local officials are having discussions about transforming the four-way intersection in the middle of downtown into a roundabout, virtually turning back the clock more than 68 years.
“It’s going to be a long process,” Mayor Rick Ramsey said. “This will redo all four streets in town, put the roundabout back in the center and enhance the safety of [downtown travel].”
Prior to the summer of 1952, a roundabout that included a “park” commonly known as the Bull Moose Pen existed in the center of town. Local residents interviewed over the last few weeks have conflicting accounts regarding the meaning behind the name of the park.
Cherokee Scout archives report the downtown “park” was destroyed in August 1952 after a state engineer recommended the installation of traffic islands and a four-way light at the intersection of Tennessee Street, Hiwassee Street, Peachtree Street and Valley River Avenue. Ironically, state traffic engineers are also leading the charge to reinstall the roundabout today.
Shortly after he was elected in 2017, Ramsey asked N.C. Department of Transportation officials for guidance on how to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety downtown. Those conversations resulted in a 2018 feasibility study that recommended several improvements in addition to the roundabout, including a truck apron to accommodate right turns of tractor-trailers and extended left turn lanes for side roads.
To accomplish the goals, engineers would have to eliminate some parking spaces downtown and modify the intersection from four travel lanes to three.
The feasibility study, which was obtained by the Scout, states that 61 accidents occurred downtown from 2013-18. The report noted that although the collisions were “low-speed” and non-fatal, the downtown crash rate during that period was higher than the statewide average, with 11 percent of the accidents involving parked vehicles.
Although the proposed project has yet to be approved by state officials and probably won’t break ground for at least another four years, local lawmakers are already planning for the change. The DOT is expected to pay for the construction of the roundabout, but it remains unclear whether the town will have to invest money to create additional parking spaces downtown.
“Council has some ideas [regarding parking],” Town Manager Chad Simons said. “Downtown parking is an issue they continue to discuss. There are no easy solutions.”
Prior to being destroyed, the Bull Moose Pen contained a pink marble fountain that was erected by the Murphy Women’s Club in 1917 in memory of Archibald D. Murphey, for whom the town is named. Today, that fountain stands in front of the Cherokee County Historical Museum on Peachtree Street. It will return to the center of town once the roundabout is completed.
“With the roundabout going back, that fountain will be returned and placed in service as a historical element,” Ramsey said.