Murphree's Drug Store, the Telephone Exchange, and More

This photo shows the remains of Pat Murphree's Drug Store after the fire swept through town. It was taken by Mrs. Coleman Parker (Lelia Payner Turner) on July 12, 1929, the day of the fire.



This photo may show some run-down buildings, but the buildings that used to be here have a very interesting story behind them.

On the right hand corner in the photo, with the large plywood front, and below the four arched windows, was the location of Pat Murphree's Drug Store. Pat Murphree was a very nice fellow who lived at the Manring Hotel.

When it was evident that the fire would destroy most of the town, he spread the word throughout town for anyone and everyone to go into his drug store and take anything and everything that they could save. This is what many people did, and the goods that were in his drug store probably helped many West Blocton residents cope with the aftermath of the fire.

What a thoughtful, unselfish gesture of kindness and generosity to give his townspeople the medicines, toiletries, home goods, foods, and whatever to start their lives over after the disastrous day that wiped out so much of the town.

Above Pat Murphree's Drug Store was the telephone exchange for the city of West Blocton. The entrance was by way of stairs on the side street to the right side of the photo. One day long before the fire, Jerry went in the exchange and given his penchant for mechanical things that continues to this day, he was fascinated with what he saw there. There were 4-5 women telephone operators, who sat in high-back chairs with foot rests and headphones. They plugged in all the the wires to connect telephone callers with other people. A technological marvel!

Jerry is not sure what the building to the left housed.

There was a sidewalk that went left to the Douthit Hotel, where Jerry worked at the time of the fire.