Time Machine: The Murphy Building

Dr. James J. Murphy arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1900 fresh out of college, and was almost immediately involved in a controversy over who would be Linn County physician.

Two doctors submitted bids for the position in February 1901. Dr. William Fitzgerald's bid was rejected because of conflicts with the board of supervisors.

Dr. George Wentch's bid was held until the last minute, but then an oral bid from Murphy was received and immediately accepted.

Wentch petitioned the District Court on Feb. 19 to get that decision changed. The supervisors claimed to have a sealed bid from Murphy, but no one could explain why it wasn't opened at the same time as the others.

The court ruled in the board's favor, and Murphy served as county physician for a little more than a year.

In October 1902, Murphy left Cedar Rapids to study for a year at the college at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He returned home in June 1903 and reopened his office at 215 South Second St. Architect D.W. Richards had an office in the building.

Richards got a permit in 1909 to build an office building at 601 Third Ave. East for $14,000. The site had served as the home of the first Sisters of Mercy Hospital, purchased by the Sisters from railroad contractor Charles O'Hara, and founded the same year Murphy arrived in town.

On March 10, 1910, Murphy moved into his 'palatial office and residence building,” at Third Avenue and Sixth Street, according to The Gazette. It was 'a conspicuous example of the success of one professional man.” Dr. William J. Neuzil moved into the adjoining office.

'The building was designed, first, to be absolutely sanitary in every way, with cement floors, steam heat, hot and cold water throughout,” The Gazette reported. 'At the northeast corner is located the bookkeeper's private offices. The rest of the front is devoted to reception rooms, with separate entrances for gentlemen and ladies, each provided with toilet and all accommodations.

'At the rear of the building Dr. Murphy has his private office and consultation room, which is simply elegant in every appointment. At the east are the offices and operating room of Dr. Murphy's assistant, Dr. W.J. Neuzil, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, who comes from Chicago. At the west side of the building are located the drug stock room, the chemical laboratory and the finest ‘X-ray' room in Iowa.

'On the second floor Drs. Murphy and Neuzil will have their private apartments, and the third floor will be arranged two large and delightful apartments for let.”

The address of the building was listed as 601-605 Third Avenue.

Murphy married Mae Petersen in July 1915. She had lived in Cedar Rapids for five years and served as a nurse at Mercy Hospital. She then moved to Minneapolis and Murphy followed. Following their wedding trip to New York, the couple returned to Murphy's apartment on Third Avenue.

Neuzil made Alice Dobry his bride on June 14, 1916.

Murphy's successful practice ended June 20, 1950, when he died.

The probate of his will was front page news when it was revealed that his estate was worth well over $1.5 million, believed to be the largest admitted in Linn County up to that point.

Murphy left half of his estate to the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids. Loras College in Dubuque and the Society of Jesus of Loyola University in Chicago each received a quarter of the estate. None of the institutions received anything until the end of a 21-year trust period that Murphy had set up to benefit business associates, friends and other charities. Among those friends and associates was Neuzil, who received $250 a month for 21 years as well as his colleague's medical equipment and medical library.

Services for Murphy were at the Mercy Hospital chapel. He was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery next to his wife, who had died in October 1947.

Neuzil continued his practice in the Murphy Building, which was managed by George F. Miller, trustee of Murphy's estate.

Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. rented the first floor offices and apartment that had once been occupied by Murphy. The commercial, plant and traffic departments of the company moved in as soon as remodeling was completed.

Neuzil cleaned out his offices at the end of February 1970, nearly 60 years after he moved in. He hadn't officially practiced medicine for about two years, but used the office to visit with old friends on Wednesday afternoons.

The Murphy building didn't last much longer. On Nov. 5, Gazette photographer John McIvor recorded its demolition. The property was paved and became a parking lot for Northwestern Bell.