Murphy’s Bridle Path
Along Central Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Northern is dirt path named for W. J. Murphy a pioneer in the development of Phoenix and more specifically the citrus business. He brought California citrus trees to Arizona and started an orchard. Since Arizona fruit ripens before the Southern California fruit, he was able to get his produce to the eastern markets ahead of the California harvest a move that made Arizona one of the country’s largest citrus producers.
This path has been designated a historic site and today is used almost exclusively by joggers and bike riders. The homes along this stretch of Central Avenue are beautiful with varied architecture making the scenery on this path very pleasant.
Very clever man! Are there any horses tht use the path?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first moved to this neighborhood this was still an active bridle path but now it's mainly joggers and moms pushing strollers. But oh what a beautiful walk it is. The sign was just recently reinstalled because it had to be taken down for many months and repaired due to a car having hit it! Murphy was also the one who established the Arizona canal system to help water all those citrus trees he brought in! He and Dwight Heard (Heard Museum, although the museum was Mrs. Heard's baby) were the true movers and shakers of early-day Phoenix.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great sign and it's always nice to have a place to take a stroll. Too bad the horse back riders are gone but wonderful for the joggers. Interesting history too.
ReplyDeleteI loved walking along this path and then heading over to AJ's for lunch.
ReplyDeleteI never knew the history of Murphy and his citrus trees!
ReplyDeleteWhat a different time and place this is from. Sorry to hear it's not often traveled by horses anymore.
ReplyDeleteMr. Murphy was a clever man indeed.
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