Thu, Jan 08 2009
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Published May 11, 2008 07:53 pm - By Joe Zentis Life Stories Sharon old-timers will remember Ed Murchie as the owner of Murchie Flowers in Sharon, as well as a couple of greenhouses. He worked long hours, often seven days a week. Asked whether the work would hurt his health in later years., his stepmother replied, "Maybe not. It might make him stronger." LIFE STORIES: Murchies grew, thrived here By Joe Zentis Life Stories SHARON — EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another installment in our twice-monthly series “Life Stories,” profiles of everyday people who lend us insight into life and times in Mercer County.
SHARON OLD-TIMERS will remember Ed Murchie as the owner of Murchie Flowers at 33 Vine Ave. in Sharon, as well as a couple of greenhouses. He worked long hours, often seven days a week. Sometimes his wife Ruth was concerned that her husband was working too hard. She asked Ed’s stepmother Anna if she thought the work would hurt his health in later years. Anna said, “Maybe not. It might make him stronger.” On May 20, Ed will celebrate his 96th birthday. He’s still active, and even gets out to play golf once a week. So it’s apparent that his stepmother was right. He got his strength not just from the hard work, but also from his genes. His grandfather, John Murchie, came from Scotland during the 19th century. “My grandmother was born on the White Cliffs of Dover,” Ed said. “She told us stories about her home there. Then during World War I my cousin, Stanley Ewing, was sent to England. When he came back, he told our grandmother that he had slept on her front lawn.” His grandfather came to New Castle to work at Butz Greenhouse, leaving his wife in Scotland until he got established. “Then she came over,” Ed said, “My father’s oldest brother was born on the way over on the boat.” After a while, John moved to Sharon to do landscaping for Mr. Boyce’s greenhouse on North Irvine Avenue. Then he opened his own greenhouse on South Irvine Avenue. After a few years he moved it to the intersection of Addison Road and Brookfield Avenue in Masury. “It was only about half a mile, but my grandfather said he wanted to get away from Sharon Steel’s smoke.” Ed’s father was born in Sharon and practically grew up in the greenhouse. So did Ed. In May, 1942, just a few days before his 30th birthday Ed was drafted into the Army Air Corps. “I was in the service 43 months but I didn’t go overseas,” Ed said. “For three years I was an instructor in gunnery school at the airfield that later was named Edwards Air Force Base. On the hottest day there it was 143 degrees. They sent us to the Tri-Aircraft Corp. in Salt Lake City for gunnery school. He gave us a written test afterwards. The instructor said ‘Murchie, I can’t give you 100, but you almost got 100. Where did you learn to shoot?’ I told him I learned to shoot when I was 10 years old. I had a 12-gauge shotgun and used to go hunting a lot.” 
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