click zoom to display a high-res image
7195, 7199, 7203, 7207, 7212 and 7213 Horseshoe Bay Road
Murphy Farms Number 1
12000314
7195, 7199, 7203, 7207, 7212 and 7213 Horseshoe Bay Road
Door
Egg Harbor
Summary
Murphy Farms No. 1
7195-7213 Horseshoe Bay Rd. (County Highway G), Town of Egg Harbor, Door County
Dates of contributing buildings: 1918-1925
The Murphy Farms No. 1 was one of two adjoining farms totaling 700-acres developed between 1917 and 1920 by two Green Bay millionaires, Frank E. Murphy and his nephew, Elbridge N. Murphy. Today, Murphy Farms No. 1 is one of the most intact remaining examples of the large farms built in Wisconsin at the end of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth as showcases for their owners' interests in selective breeding. Such farms are of the same grand scale as the large industrial dairy farms also developed in the early twentieth century, but they differ in the greater attention to the architectural design of the show farm’s components. The higher quality of the materials used in the show farms further indicates that these farms were built without the intention of making financial gain. Such farms were a nationwide phenomenon during this period but few were built in Wisconsin and they are, therefore, perhaps the rarest farm type to be found in the state.
This multi-generational family-owned farm also represents the Murphy-Cowles family's important role in the agricultural history of Door County. Begun in 1914 as part of a real estate development scheme, Frank E. and Eldridge N. Murphy soon after acquired the farm, greatly enlarged it and made it into a showcase for selective Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle breeding. In 1925, the two men dissolved their partnership and Frank E. Murphy became the sole proprietor of the farm. Murphy disbanded the breeding herd, keeping a more modest dairy herd, and emphasized the fruit growing potential of the farm. Under his and his descendants' ownership, it became the largest single producer of cherries, apples and plums in Door County, as well as the county's largest seasonal employer.
The houses and barns on the farm are private and are not open to the public except for special events. Please respect the rights and privacy of the residents.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
