The Maltese Cross

               [ Home ] [ Contact ] [ Memorial Single ] [ Music Gigs ] [ Updates and Links ] [ Firefighter Songs ] [ Credits ] [ Song Lyrics ] [ Buy ] [ About ] [ Song Clips ]

The 48'ers

We recently have produced a one song CD in memory of my father, Edward J. Murphy, a retired fire lieutenant from the L.F.D. who died on September 11, 2005. He was a “48’er”. This music is dedicated to them, their families and to firefighters and their loved ones everywhere.  This CD was produced with the assistance of my son Eddie III, my son-in-law Mike Hohenadel (artwork), other members of my family and friends, Al Gagnon on piano, Brian Kingsley, Mike Messineo, the Thomas Eaton Recording Studio, Captain William A. Lannon, and other members of the L.F.D.      

Read an Eagle Tribune article about it here.

My father was born in Lawrence and lived here all his life. He met my mother Mary, also a life long resident of Lawrence . They both were educated in Lawrence and they were married in 1921.  My folks have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grand-children. They were married for 60 years.

After World War II my dad joined the Lawrence fire department. He served with the department for 34 years. He was appointed permanent on March 8, 1948 and retired out of Engine 3 on South Broadway (now Ladder 4) on February 28, 1982. He was appointed a permanent firefighter along with 61 other World War II veterans on the same day in 1948. They have been known throughout their careers as “the 48’ers” because the department went from a 70 hour work week to a 48 hour work schedule that year. This CD is a celebration of their 60th anniversary on March 8th 2008.  Here is a brief history of “the 48’ers” and of the Lawrence fire department they joined.  

In an article written in the Thursday, March 4th 1948 edition of “The Evening Tribune”, it states, “Promotions, transfers and assignments, effective Monday, March 8 in the Lawrence fire department when the hours of the personnel drops from 70 to 48 a week, were issued Thursday in the form of general orders signed by Fire Chief Edward A. Retelle and approved by Alderman Louis J. Scanlon…. Sixty-two of the assignments are for the same number of new firemen appointed by the alderman…The total personnel in the department will be 204 Monday, it was added, as against the present 144.”

“The entire number in connection with the reduced work week will include, the chief, five deputy chiefs, twelve captains, 25 lieutenants, 151 permanent firemen, a supervisor of apparatus, a fireman-mechanic, an assistant electrical inspector, an assistant superintendent of fire alarm division, three electricians, one chief operator at the fire alarm division, a clerk and a temporary ambulance attendant.”

“The 62 new firemen will be on a six month probationary period, in accordance with civil service regulations. Alderman Scanlon pointed out in January that “if for any reason any of the men are not adapted to the work and do not make good” he will take up their future status with State Civil Service Director Thomas J. Greehan.”

“When the 48 hour-week goes into effect Monday in the fire department it’s personnel will work periods of two days and two nights each week. The two platoon system will continue in effect as it is at the present time under the 70-hour-a- week schedule.”

In the 1972 the 48-hour-a-week schedule was changed to 42 hours and remains so today. The number of men and women on the Lawrence fire department today is 132.

So this is a brief story behind my father’s personal life, his military and fire department careers, the history of “the 48’ers” and this music. I hope that you enjoy them all.