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Brete Murphy
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Brete Murphy
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Queens History, Newtown History brete blue 8/21/26 Queens History, Newtown History brete blue 8/21/26

Maspeth and English Kills: Newtown’s Early Colonial Frontier

Maspeth began as one of Queens’s earliest and most troubled colonial settlements. Its history runs through Newtown Creek, English Kills, farms, roads, and the making of urban Queens.

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Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26 Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26

Middletown and the German Settlement: A Lost Rural Community in Long Island City

Middletown, later known as the German Settlement, was a rural Newtown community of farms, schools, churches, and old roads before it was absorbed into Long Island City.

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Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26 Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26

Dutch Kills: The Creek, Mills, and Farms Beneath Modern Long Island City

Dutch Kills was once a tidal creek country of mills, farms, and old Newtown families. Its hidden waterway still tells the story beneath modern Long Island City.


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Queens and New York City History

Articles on neighborhoods, landmarks, institutions, local figures, and overlooked stories from Queens and the wider city.

Freemasonry in Queens

Research and writing on lodges, notable members, Masonic buildings, and the role of Freemasonry in local civic life.

Masonic Symbols and Education

Essays on symbolism, ritual meaning, historical context, and educational subjects within Freemasonry.

Fraternal Traditions

Separate writing on related orders, traditions, and practices approached through historical and educational interpretation.

Future Projects

Books, booklets, historical tour guides, image collections, and an interactive map of Queens are planned as this site continues to grow.

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  • Queens History
  • Freemasonry in Queens

Recent Writing

The blog is the center of this site — an ongoing space for original articles, research notes, historical essays, and commentary.

Topics include Queens history, New York City history, Masonic lodge history, symbolism, notable members, architecture, and fraternal traditions.

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About Brete Murphy

I am a writer and researcher focused on Queens history, New York City history, Freemasonry, symbolism, architecture, and fraternal traditions. This site brings together my writing, research, and long-term publishing projects in one place.

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A Growing Historical Resource

BretMurphy.com is intended to grow into more than a blog. Over time, the site will include books, short publications, historical tour guides, curated image collections, and interactive tools that make history more accessible and engaging.

This is a long-term project, built one article, one place, and one story at a time.

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Brete Murphy

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