Hobe Sound in Martin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Camp Murphy Site
Photographed By Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008
1. Camp Murphy Site Marker
Inscription.
Camp Murphy Site. . In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during World War II and served as a U.S. Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11,364 acres and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church, and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp's deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1946. On June 9, 1947, the property was transferred from the U.S. Government to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.
In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during World War II and served as a U.S. Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11,364 acres and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church, and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp's deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1946. On June 9, 1947, the property was transferred from the U.S. Government to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.
Erected 2008 by Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and The Florida Department of State (A Florida Heritage Site). (Marker Number F-624.)
27° 1.011′ N, 80° 6.63′ W. Marker is in Hobe Sound, Florida, in Martin County. The marker is off a park road to the southwest of Hobe Mountain observation tower. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hobe Sound FL 33455, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Many of the concrete footings of the buildings are still visible, as are the camp's original roads.
Also see . . . Camp Murphy (Florida). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 19, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary. 1. Relocation of marker and addition It appears that the marker has been moved about 300 feet or so from the roadside to in front of a new kiosk display about the
Photographed By Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008
2. Camp Murphy Site Marker (old location)
history of the Camp. The photos will illustrate the move . Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida.
Photographed By James R. Murray, May 15, 2015
3. Camp Murphy Site Marker (new location)
Marker is now in front of an informational kiosk that richly describes the history of the Camp.
Photographed By Google Earth, May 15, 2015
4. Camp Murphy Site Marker
View of the old location of the marker. It appears the marker has been moved about 300 feet from the side of the road to a new location in front of a kiosk.
Photographed By Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008
5. Hobe Mountain Tower information sign
Hobe Mountain Tower This 10-minute walk up to the top of the Hobe Mountain observation tower will give you a view of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and the entire expanse of the park. As you walk through the sand pine scrub (vanishing plant community) notice the changes in terrain and elevation. This “mountain” is the highest natural point south of Lake Okeechobee, rising 86 feet above sea level on ancient sand dunes. Please stay on the path to prevent erosion.
Photographed By James R. Murray, May 15, 2015
6. Camp Murphy Site Marker
Close up of the detail of the descriptions of the camp
Photographed By Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008
7. Jonathan Dickinson State Park entrance sign along U.S. 1
Photographed By Florida Memories, Unknown
8. Aerial view of Camp Murphy
Photographed By FL Trails, Unknown
9. Camp Murphy site trails
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,747 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. 5. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 6. submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. 7. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 8, 9. submitted on October 19, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.