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Brete Murphy
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Brete Murphy
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Long Island City History, Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26 Long Island City History, Queens History Brete Murphy 8/21/26

How Long Island City Was Created in 1870

In 1870, Astoria, Hunter’s Point, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Blissville, Steinway, and other communities united to create Long Island City.


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

Ravenswood: The Lost Estates and Industrial Shoreline of Western Queens

Ravenswood was once a wooded East River district of colonial estates and country homes. Its history runs from the Blackwell family and Hell Gate to industry and 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 History, Hunter's Point History brete blue 8/21/26 Queens History, Hunter's Point History brete blue 8/21/26

Hunter’s Point: The Vanished Hill That Became Long Island City’s Gateway

Hunter’s Point began as a solitary hill at the mouth of Newtown Creek. Discover how Dominie’s Hook became a railroad terminal, industrial waterfront, and the gateway to Long Island City.

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Long Island City, Masonic History Brete Murphy 8/20/26 Long Island City, Masonic History Brete Murphy 8/20/26

Island City Lodge No. 586 and the Temple That Served the City

Founded at the end of the Civil War, Island City Lodge No. 586 grew with Long Island City itself. Its Jackson Avenue Masonic Temple stood at the center of neighborhood life and later served not only the craft, but the city around it.


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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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