Hal’s Background
I was born and raised on the Atlantic coast in Elberon, New Jersey, a small town north
of Asbury Park. I attended college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New
York. Received a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree in 1958. Worked with
the Martin Company (aircraft and missile) for six years. What brought me to the West
Coast was a job offer from Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale in 1964. I lived in
Mountain View until 1969 when I married Karen Richards, a school teacher originally
from Minnesota. We first got an apartment in Cupertino. A year later we located a
house on Endicott Drive in Sunnyvale. That was our home for 46 years form 1970 to
2016, when we moved to The Forum Retirement Community in Cupertino.
My wife Karen was the first to become involved in Sunnyvale activities. She was a
founder and charter member of the Sunnyvale Garden Club. She was very active in
that club for the entire time we lived in Sunnyvale. The Museum has a file, that Karen
compiled, on the history of the Sunnyvale Garden Club.
After I retired from Lockheed in 2001 we were both active with the Sunnyvale Senior
Center, mostly with their Senior trips. We traveled to 35 countries on five continents,
before my wife passed away in 2018.
My hobbies and interests over the years have been skiing, backpacking, biking, and
photography. A lot of that has been in the past. After retirement, I biked several
Century bicycle rides around Northern California. I’m now active with bocce ball at the
Forum.
Volunteering
Shortly after I retired, Laura Babcock (who lived seven doors down the street from us)
stopped by and told us she was involved in building a new Sunnyvale history museum.
She said they want to include an engraved brick and tile program to raise funds. She
knew I was retired, and asked if I would manage that program. I’ve always had some
interest in history, so I said I’ll do it. That was 2005. I then joined the Museum Group
meetings at Murphy Park.
Site building plans had the size and shape of the proposed bricks and tiles. We made
up an ordering form and put my name and address on it. Laura defined the prices.
Laser Impressions, right here in Sunnyvale, was selected as the engraver. They use a
computer controlled laser beam that melts the clay and transforms the material into a
mark that is permanent. I had several discussions with them as to the size and font of
lettering on the bricks for best visibility, and what could be included for display on the
tiles. As soon as order forms got passed around, I began to get orders. At each of our
regular meetings, I would present the current number of orders and the donation value.
To respond to the orders as I got them, I formatted an acknowledgement letter. It
contains a museum letter head and thanks them for their donation. It also includes an
image, that I would make (from typing or scanning) of their engraving request, to show
them how their brick or tile would look. They could then contact me if they wanted any
change. I would then include the order in my files.
In 2006 we had our groundbreaking ceremony. We had a table explaining our brick and
tile donation program. It included brick and tile samples and lists of current donors and
order forms.
Early on, we decided we would do yearly installations. Therefore, when the deadline for
each year occurred I would contact Laser Impressions and email them a list of all our
wanted engravings. They have always provided an excellent response and product.
Laser calls me when our order is ready for pickup. I stop by and pick them up, and
check all the inscriptions to make sure there are no errors. I call Laura and she opens
our storage building so I can store all our bricks and tiles in there, ready for installation.
After obtaining our order, I call our installer. We use Walton & Sons Masonry for
installation. They were recommended by Laser Impressions. They were located in
Mountain View, but now have relocated to Morgan Hill, but they do a lot of work in this
area. Almost always we schedule for installation early in the morning.
On the day of installation, before the crew arrives, I lay each new brick on top of the
blank brick to be replaced. All bricks are numbered and generally placed in the order in
which their order was received. However, some donors request their brick be located
next to some other brick, or if they are a Murphy family member, their brick is placed
with the other Murphy member bricks. The same is done for the tiles. I lay the new tiles
on top of the wall where they are desired for the upper row of tiles, and on the ground
for the lower row of tiles.
The installers remove the sand around each appropriate brick and remove the blank
brick using a large clamp device to pull the brick out. The new brick is then inserted and
adjusted for a correct position. The tiles are similarly replaced. Grout is removed
around the appropriate tile and a multiple suction cup device is used to pull the tile off
the wall. The new tile is inserted and properly adjusted and grout applied around the
edges. After all are replaced, the bricks and tiles are washed to remove any dirt or
debris.
I have made up two binders listing the location of all bricks and tiles. The binders are
located in the museum by the front desk. One binder is for bricks and one binder is for
tiles. Each binder has two sections, one with listings by Donor and one with listings by
Honoree. During installation, I replace all the pages with the updates for this years
added bricks and tiles.
Since our Museum opened, here are the yearly number of bricks and tiles added and
the total donation value. This year was the highest number since our opening.
Total Donations from Bricks and Tiles
| Year End | Total Amount Raised | Number of Tiles | Number of Bricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | $116,250 | 141 | 321 |
| 2008 | $5,525 | 4 | 19 |
| 2009 | $6,900 | 3 | 30 |
| 2010 | $4,732 | 1 | 24 |
| 2011 | $3,225 | 3 | 9 |
| 2012 | $4,800 | 3 | 19 |
| 2013 | $3,550 | 2 | 14 |
| 2014 | $4,625 | 3 | 17 |
| 2015 | $2,175 | 3 | 3 |
| 2016 | $3,325 | 2 | 12 |
| 2017 | $2,150 | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | $4,300 | 5 | 7 |
| 2019 | $2,950 | 2 | 9 |
| 2020 | Closed due to pandemic | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | $2,875 | 2 | 8 |
| 2022 | $2,900 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023 | $3,550 | 2 | 12 |
| 2024 | $9,850 | 6 | 32 |
| TOTAL | $183,682 | 188 | 543 |
I really enjoy being involved with our brick and tile program. It has been fascinating hearing from so many people with so many interests in having an engraved brick or tile.The variety and types of inscriptions they have requested have been amazing.
Sunnyvale
What was most fascinating to me when I joined the Museum group was learning about
the Stephens Townsend Murphy Party. Happening two years before the Donner Party,
and I had never heard of them. And to find out that one of them settled in what became
Sunnyvale was amazing. I was indeed living in an historic city.
When I first moved into Sunnyvale, downtown was more like a small town center.
Growing up as a stamp collector, I picked it up again because of a stamp and coin
collector shop located on E. Washington Street. I really missed going there when they
tore down most every thing to build the huge shopping center. Once again today, with
the newest rebuilding activity, I do miss the Macy’s store. Living where we did in
Sunnyvale allowed me to either take a bus to work, or when I drove, never having to
take a freeway. Good location.