Murphy Hotel

Murphy Hotel appeared in the Green Book from 1947 - 1954. It was located at 813 Castle Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. It was listed in the Green Book as “Murphy--813 Castle St.” under “Hotels.” The hotel was owned by Robert Jones Murphy.¹

Robert Jones Murphy, proprietor of the Murphy Hotel, was born in Kelly, Bladen County, North Carolina, to Ezekiel and Sarah Murphy in 1906. His father, a farmer, moved the family to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the 1920’s. By 1930, Ezekiel (now a widower) worked alongside Robert at a fertilizer plant. Robert’s sister, Lilly B., worked as a cook for a private family. Lilly and Robert had five additional siblings, all under the age of 17, to help support.²

Around 1940, Robert Murphy opened a billiards room at his residence on 813 Castle Street. The pool room closed before 1943, and Robert moved into the home of George Faison at 1019 Castle Street. Like many future Green Book business owners in Wilmington, Robert worked for the NC Shipbuilding Company during World War II.³

Robert Murphy regained ownership of 813 Castle Street in the mid-1940’s and was operating the residence as a hotel, listed as “Murphy’s Hotel” in the city directory. By 1952, he was also operating Wilmington Dry Cleaners from 813 Castle Street, and in 1953 he married Annie Wright Reddick. The couple continued to run the hotel until at least 1963; in that year, Singletary’s Radio and Television Service, Murphy’s Hotel, and Castle Street Seafood Market were all located at 813 Castle Street. The couple lived at 813 Castle Street at the time of Robert’s death in 1984, and his occupation was listed as “Hotel Operator – Murphy’s Hotel” on his death certificate.⁴

Today, 813 Castle Street operates as Colonial Arms Boarding House.⁵

Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2019

Notes

1. Victor Green, 1947 Green Book, 65; Green, 1948 Green Book, 63; Green, 1949 Green Book, 57; Green, 1950 Green Book, 63; Green, 1951 Green Book, 55; Green, 1952 Green Book, 55; Green, 1953 Green Book, 55; Green, 1954 Green Book, 54.
2. 1920 United States Census, French’s Creek, Bladen County, NC, digital images s.v. "Robert J. Murphy,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1930 United States Census, Ward 5, Wilmington, New Hanover County,, NC, digital images s.v. "Robert Murphey,” accessed from www.ancestry.com.
3. Robert Jones Murphy, Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Hill’s 1940 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory p. 310, classified directory p. 618, street directory p. 293; Hill’s 1942 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory p. 484, classified directory p. 839; Hill’s 1943 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory p. 483, street directory p. 11.
4. Hill’s 1947 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory, p. 230, classified directory, p. 486, street directory, p. 8; Hill’s 1948-49 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory p. 224, classified directory p. 458, street directory p. 7; Hill’s 1963 Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory, Hill Directory Company, Inc.: Richmond, VA, city directory, p. 252, classified directory p. 186, street directory p. 62; Robert J. Murphy and Annie Reddick, September 19, 1953, New Hanover County,  North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011, accessed from www.ancestry.com; Robert Jones Murphy, February 7, 1984, Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC, North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994, North Carolina State Archives; Raleigh, North Carolina, accessed from www.familysearch.org.
5. Listing for “Colonial Arms Boarding House,” accessed from www.shelterlistings.org; Adam Wagner, “Photos: Green Book Sites in Wilmington,” Star News Online, March 18, 2019, accessed from https://www.starnewsonline.com/photogallery/NC/20190318/NEWS/316009981/….