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Brete Murphy
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Brete Murphy
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brete blue 8/20/26 brete blue 8/20/26

Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586: A Living Inheritance of Six New York Lodges

Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 preserves the combined history of six lodges founded in Manhattan and Queens between 1856 and 1923. This article traces their origins, neighborhoods, consolidations, and continuing legacy.


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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.

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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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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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