Broadway National Register Historic District: 1998

Architectural Style: Second Empire

Construction Date: circa 1876-1877

Nominated by: Suzanne Curry for the Rock Island Preservation Society

Anastasia (Ciolina) Murphy, though married, held title to this house in her own name. She married Michael Joseph Murphy in 1874, when she was 27 years old. He dealt in pianos and she taught music. They moved into this house in 1899 or 1900. According to her 1921 obituary, she was “one of the best known women in this community” and “gifted with considerable talent as artist, pianist and vocalist.” Besides her music, she was well known for her painting. The Murphys’ daughter, Naomi, lived in this house with her husband until 1984.

The Murphy House was originally constructed as a double house by Mrs. Murphy. It is believed architect Isaac N. Holmes designed the building because Mrs. Murphy used him in other contemporary projects. Although vacant and deeply neglected from the 1980s until 2005, this unique edifice has been reborn as loft housing.

Second Empire style homes in Rock Island are very rare, and this house is second only to the Weyerhaeuser House for architectural lavishness. The patterned cedar shingle roof has been restored, along with the cornice and the unusual triangle windows in the mansard roof. The porch has also been restored, replacing a Colonial Revival style, full facade porch that appeared on house around 1906. The porch restoration has once again highlighted the wonderful, raised, English-style basement. A new, eight-stall carriage house has been erected at the north end of the property.

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