The outstanding home designed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright for Susan Lawrence Dana, known as the Dana-Thomas Home in Springfield is such an example. When it underwent a total restoration, F. J. Murphy & Son, Inc. was selected to install all new Plumbing & HVAC, and to design and install a special concealed Fire Protection Sprinkler system to protect this treasured landmark.
Going back quite a few years, John Murphy, plumber and father of the man for whom our company is named, twice did one of the more interesting jobs related to our family’s trade. In 1884, since plumbers worked with “lead” on a regular basis, John Murphy and another plumber were hired to open and then re-seal the lead coffin of Abraham Lincoln. Then, some 16 years later in 1900, when the Lincoln Monument at Oak Ridge Cemetery was torn down and rebuilt, the services of John Murphy and his co-worker were once again called on. The task was to re-open the lead coffin to confirm that the body of Lincoln was indeed still there! When the confirmation was concluded for the group of 23 people including the plumbers and the Guard of Honor, John Murphy and his co-worker then closed and re-sealed the coffin with plumber’s lead for the second time, before it was lowered 10 feet below the tomb floor. It was then covered with two tons of concrete and rests untouched in that spot today.