History
The Secret Seven: The Day the Rat Broke the Code
Three of the Secret Seven – Jimmy “Elmer” DeSanto, Billy “BJ” DeSanto, and Tim “Murph the Surf” Murphy on the day it hi…
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Peter Michael Russell: The Erie Fugitive and the Coat That Came Back
Peter Michael Russell – Erie Fugitive (Google it!) My best friend in life with Joi my girl in Blasdell NY whenever we c…
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Bootleg Whiskey and Opera Songs: The Prohibition-Era Adventures of Perry Murphy
Grandpa Perry Murphy, circa 1927, Chicago, IL. Grandpa Perry modified his tugboat in Erie Pa at the begining of Prohibi…
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Murph the Surf and Tony ‘The Ant’: Protected by the Code Behind the Walls
Murph the Surf with Anthony “Tony the Ant” Cangianno in the yard on visiting day. Tony was made man from Astoria Queens…
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Murph the Surf: Forged in Steel at Collins Correctional Facility
Tim “Murph the Surf” Murphy: 85-C-0177 – Collins Correctional Facility – In the yard on visiting day. Amazing what 1500…
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Murph the Surf: The Black Duster and the Making of an Outlaw
Murph the Surf circa: early 1980’s in Lackawanna, NY in full length black leather duster, complete with sawed-off shotg…
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Mary Ellen DeSanto: The Love That Changed Everything
Mary Ellen DeSanto – the Original Greatest Love of My Life – I met her at the P.P. Club and instantly fell in love. She…
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Grandpa Murphy: Songs, Stories, and the Survivor’s Code
Grandpa Murphy, circa 1960’s as I knew him. Irish tenor, piano player, story-teller. Always had an Irish joke or story.…
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Grandpa Murphy at Dobbin’s Landing: The Tugboat Captain of Erie’s Prohibition Era
Grandpa Murphy on the deck of his tugboat at Dobbin’s Landing dock in Erie Pa. This picture was in “The Erie Story” mag…
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Grandma Murphy: The Quiet Lessons of the Million-Dollar Baby
Grandma Murphy, circa 1960’s as I knew her. She treated me different than all the other grandchildren. She whispered li…
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The Million Dollar Baby of Erie: The Untold Story of Ethel Mae Murphy and the Prohibition Empire
Grandma Ethel Mae Murphy, circa 1923, Erie, Pa. “The Million Dollar Baby” She controlled Rum Running in Erie with her L…
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Tony ‘The Ant’ Cangianno: Lessons in Power, Code, and Consequence
Tony Cangianno and Murph the Surf on visiting day in Collins Correctional Facility. I was his Lieutenant in the joint –…
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A Moment of Grace: Murph the Surf and Laura Lynn at The Tabernacle
Actual photograph taken by Murph the Surf with his wife Laura Lynn Sorce Murphy after a church service at The Tabernacl…
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John Charles Murphy: War Hero, Inventor, and the Mind Behind the Weebles
John Charles Murphy circa 1946 – Father – War Hero – Received the Navy Bar for being shot down during World War II flyi…
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The Night at the Calabrese Club: Cy Ciotti, Maynard Ferguson, and the Power Behind Erie’s Underworld
Backstage of The Calabrese Club Opening Night – Mikey “Mousey – shoulda been rat” DeAurora Jr. , Anthony “Tony Jr.” Cio…
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