Murphy’s Mercantile
Cheryl Unruh
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
ONE question that invariably slides into my mind when I enter a Kansas town, especially a small one, is, “Is this a hospitable place?”
I guess on a deeper level the question really is, “Could I live here?”
While I’m not likely to move anywhere anytime soon, it’s always fun to try on a town to see how it feels around you.
Because I grew up in a community of about 400 people, I’m well aware of the small-town dramas and personality conflicts, but I also know the feeling of belonging and connectedness that comes from working side-by-side with neighbors and knowing the stories of their lives.
Recently, Dave and I pulled into a Neosho County town with about 105 souls – Stark.
We had eaten lunch, Thai food at the Typhoon in Pittsburg, and were returning to Emporia after spending several days in the Ozarks. I was exhausted, reclining in the car’s passenger seat. More than anything I just wanted to be home.
But Dave saw the road sign along K-39 and announced, “Stark. That sounds like a place we’re obligated to check out.”
I muttered a weak “OK” and he pulled into a field drive and turned the car around.
While Dave photographed the exterior of downtown buildings, I stepped into Murphy’s Mercantile and Cafe. Two men were drinking coffee at the end of a long communal table. In a booth, a man and a woman were eating sandwiches.
I introduced myself to Denna Myers who was working behind the counter and she told me a bit about this business which Rick and Portia Murphy had owned for the past few years.
She bragged on the cook, Frances Stewart, listing some of the favorite menu items and added, “She makes just a wonderful breakfast – with fresh hash browns.”
A young man came in and ordered two sandwiches to go. He looked through the portal to the kitchen. “You’ve got Pete doing dishes?” he asked.
“We got busy for a Tuesday,” Denna replied.
“Pete is the pastor of our church and he’s helping out with dishes today,” she told me. “He’s a great guy.”
The main room was the dining area, but a smaller room to the side held two aisles of groceries, cleaning supplies, and garden seeds.
The place has a warm, country feel to it with wooden floors and tasteful décor. And even on that gloomy day with rain falling, the windows let natural light into Murphy’s.
I could picture the large tables filling up in the morning with coffee drinkers. And they’d be laughing and teasing each other, because that’s what people do who know each other well.
While photographing the restaurant, I glanced into a refrigerated case and spotted pie.
“Strawberry, chocolate and apple,” Denna replied when I asked. She had made the pies herself from scratch.
You can probably guess: chocolate. I find it nearly impossible to resist the meringue-chocolate combination. I added a Diet Coke to the equation.
As I sat at the long table which was scattered with farm auction bills, from my pocket I pulled my birthday present, an iPod Touch, and discovered: Wi-Fi! Yes, this place has wireless Internet access.
A farmer, Lester Gemmill, came in for lunch and Dave and I visited with him about the incessant rain. Then Pete, the pastor, emerged from the kitchen and sat down with Lester.
Portia Murphy, the owner who was in Yates Center at a son’s track meet, called while I was there. Denna handed me the phone and I met Portia via long distance. By now I was beginning to feel like one of the family.
Twenty minutes at Murphy’s and I felt revived. Caffeine, chocolate pie, cheerful conversation, and Wi-Fi - who needs more than that?
Seriously. Who needs more than that? I think I could live here.
Cheryl Unruh can be reached at cheryl@flyoverpeople.net.