Up a winding country road, flanked by tall, deep green fir trees and serenity, lies a tiny, obscure town with more stories than people. Meet historic Murray, Idaho, population 30 – plus or minus, depending on who you ask.
Born in the gold-mining days and named after prospector George Murray, it has quite the interesting history.
We only stumbled in on Murray as we were leaving a gold panning site nearby. Seeing a sign saying Bedroom Goldmine Bar, we knew we had to stop in and check it out.
A great little joint, we got the “tour” by the owner. He showed us the area where there was a mine underneath the building, where there was once a bedroom. After a flood, the shaft was inundated with water, so that was the end of the little mine. But a Plexiglas panel has been placed over the hole to the mine so visitors can see down into it.
Then we noticed signs and t-shirts mentioning “Molly B’Damn Days” and had to ask what that was all about. Maggie Burdan (born Maggie Hall to Irish parents), who went by the first name of Molly, moved to Idaho after her divorce. Stories say that she met Calamity Jane along the way.
It’s thought that people misunderstood her pronunciation of Burdan and thought she was saying something like B’Damn. Needing a way to support herself, she was a prostitute and brothel owner. (She was forced into prostitution by her husband during her marriage, so it was something she knew how to do and how to make money). One story tells of her sitting in a bathtub in the street, and miners would throw gold into the tub. She was quite the entrepreneur.
You might find it odd that a town would pay tribute to a prostitute. But she didn’t keep the money all to herself. Molly was well-known for having a heart of gold and taking care of others in need (perhaps because she knew what it was like to need help herself). She helped her friends and neighbors financially and also took care of contagious sick people when no one else would. That’s likely what led to her death, as she died from TB at age 34.
In honor and respect of her love and care for everyone, the Molly B’Damn Days were organized, and a non-profit foundation was created, with the funds raised helping with town upkeep and aiding any citizen who needs it. It’s a three-day event each August, with a car show, food, a parade, and the selection of a “Molly Queen”.
Another interesting fact we learned was that, supposedly, Wyatt Earp – yes, Wyatt Earp the lawman – was actually fined in 1884 for claim jumping on George Murray. His penalty was a whole $65.00.
Finally, we were told to go check out the local cemetery. It’s unusual with the various large historic headstones. That’s where Maggie/Molly is buried. Knowing she was dying, she asked to be buried under her original name of Maggie Hall. There are also several other interesting town characters, such as the childhood friend of Mark Twain, Captain “Tonk” Toncrecy, who was also the inspiration for Tom Sawyer; regular townsfolk like the first baker and the man who found the first gold. It’s a nice little cemetery and is well-kept. You can learn a lot about a town by the people they honor and how they remember them in their cemeteries.
So, if you’re ever in northern Idaho and want to check out a great little town with unique and quirky characters, history, and a lot of charm, you’ll find it all in little ole’ Murray, Idaho.
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