Local preservation group asks county to support Murphy family spring house preservation

Pat Collier, speaking for the Sarah Barton Murphy chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, asked county commissioners to consider coordinating with the city and property owners to preserve what she described as the Murphy family's spring house and related historical sites.

Collier recounted local history she said connects to William Murphy, who she said applied for a Spanish land grant in 1798, and to subsequent family members buried locally. She told the board the site included a spring house and that local volunteers and a Boy Scout troop had completed prior cleanups; she said an engineer would likely need to assess stability and that the structure has been overtaken by vegetation. Collier said she had spoken with the city council and the historical society and requested that the county "be aware of the situation" and consider working with the city and property owner.

Commission staff noted the site is privately owned and that the recent sale of a nearby property means the new owner may be the key contact for preservation efforts. Commissioners recorded Collier's presentation as a public-comment report and took no formal action during the meeting.