RR Photographer/collector Ken Murry dies in fire

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:20 pm

UPDATE:

Apparently some of Murry's stuff was either rescued or stored offsite:

http://www.maurerail.com/asp%5C150110br.sle.pdf

Quote:

Selling In The Blue Room - Railroadiana, Featuring The Ken Murry Estate, Plus Others. Ken Murry Of Mountville, PA, Was A Member Of The Lancaster Chapter Of The National Railway Historical Society Since 1959. Railroading And Trains Were Passions Of His, Exemplified By His Artistic Pursuits Of Gardening, Painting & Photography. This Auction Includes RR Hardware, Important RR Signage, Builders Plates And Other RR Accoutrements From Mr. Murry’s Estate. Extensive Selection Of Books, Pictures & Prints From A Private Collection Round Out The Sale.

MAURER'S AUCTIONS (AY001999)

http://www.maurerail.com

Auctions Carry A 12% Buyer's Premium
2% Discount For Cash Or Pre-Approved Check Day of Sale
Ridge Fire Co., 480 Ridge Road, (Along Rt. 23 Between Rt. 100 And Phoenixville),
Spring City, PA 19475

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photo ... &zip=&kwd=

Usual disclaimer: I have no financial interest in this, and haven't even read it myself to see if I want anything from it.......

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:51 pm

I seem to recall how deeply grieved a number of board participants were by the gentleman's untimely passing, and the nature of his death. It would appear as though a significant amount of valuable material was collected and preserved, post fire. Thanks to all who took an interest in securing Mr. Murray's collection from likely wanton destruction.

Thanks for posting, #4.

p51 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:03 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

I've been in at least four "collectors'" houses where one could only navigate up one side of the staircase(s) because half or more of the stairs was occupied with "clutter" awaiting sorting. In one particular case, I arrived at the estate for what was the third of what turned into nine separate days of sorting and trashing; the house was so full of everything from forty-year-old expense accounts to city histories to consulting reports to dead relatives' clothing to erotic fetish attire to who-knows-what that they had already filled up two roll-away dumpsters.

This raises a good point: Keep the good stuff out by itself so it can be ID'd easily. If you store your precious stuff right alongside things nobody would touch except with a pait of tongs, then you should count on it all going into a landfill when you're gone.