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| Maryland News, December 23, 1955. Microfilm collection of the Silver Spring Historical Society. |
Like this year, Christmas day fell on a Sunday in 1955. Shoppers who had yet to complete their holiday purchases might have felt relieved when this advertisement for G. C. Murphy & Co. appeared in the Friday, December 23rd Maryland News.
This "five and dime" variety store was the namesake of George Clinton Murphy, who founded the business in 1906 in McKeesport, PA. A national chain store that offered low-priced merchandise, Murphy's had been located at 8237 Georgia Avenue since 1937.
Murphy's occupied the ground floor of the MUCH altered building that still sits on the southeast corner of Georgia and Thayer avenues (originally contructed c. 1927 and named the Heizer Building after its owner, Roy M. Heizer). It is difficult to imagine all of the merchandise touted in this advertisement fitting into such a small building.
Adjusted for inflation, the advertised prices do not seem too dissimilar from what one would pay for the same items today. That 67c nylon hosiery for your wife or girlfriend is equal to $5.66 and the high-end $5.98 all-metal wagon for little Dickie (or Sue) would be set you back $50.48. Keep in mind that the national average wage in 1955 was $3,301.44 or $68.78 each week...before taxes.
Murphy's remained in the Heizer Building thru at least 1968. Amazingly, no photographs of either the exterior or interior of this business that served our community for over three decades have surfaced. If you have photos...or even reminiscences of shopping or working at this Murphy location...please share them here.
Murphy's remained in the Heizer Building thru at least 1968. Amazingly, no photographs of either the exterior or interior of this business that served our community for over three decades have surfaced. If you have photos...or even reminiscences of shopping or working at this Murphy location...please share them here.
