SINCE
1911
We think it was 1911 when J. E. Murphy , Sr., who had graduated from
Bowling Green Business College, accepted a position with Lee Wilson Co. At
about the same time, he met another young man who was D. F. Portis, Sr.,
and both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Portis envisioned Lepanto as a wonderful
place to live and start a businesss. Together, they established a general
merchandise store and a John Deere dealership, which was known as
Murphy and Portis. The businesses were housed in a large wooden building
with a tin roof and a porch, as were the other businesses on what is now known as main street, Lepanto. There was no running water, no lights, and when it
rained the street turned to mud. There were large boards, which ran from
one side of the street to the other, to keep the ladies shoes from the dust or
mud. As most people know, the rivers played a very important part in the
logging and farming industry in and around Lepanto. Because the area was
low and prone to flooding, the buildings, were built high off the ground. It
is hard to imagine but the river was much larger than it is now. There
were docks that large steam boats would tie up to and deliver supplies.
Even the locals would use the river to travel to Lepanto to do their shopping.
People who went to Marked Tree, at one time, had to ferry the river. On
the ferry, there was a sign that advertised large tents, and that Murphy and Portis had all the necessary equipment to outfit logging camps.
large stand that held what a farmer would use to outfit his mules with leather
collars, harnesses, and so on. As time passed, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Portis
decided to build new modern brick buildings, which were side by side. Mr.
Murphy retained the furniture, hardware, stoves, caskets, and the John Deere
dealership, as well as some other things, The original wooden building became the J.E. Murphy warehouse. Unfortunately, this structure and all its contents,
including many fine antiques, was lost to fire.
