The sign at the start of Murphy's Bridle Path at Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios
Congratulations to Wayne J. for being the first of many readers to give us the correct location for Friday's "Where in the Valley?" photo.
The horse-and-horseshoe sign is on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road, along Murphy's Bridle Path.
State of play: Today, Murphy's Bridle Path is a quaint, unpaved trail running along a scenic stretch of Central Avenue between Bethany Home and the Arizona Canal.
But as its name and signage suggest, it was originally created as a horse trail.
Flashback: The path was created by William J. Murphy, who deeded right-of-way for the 10-foot path in 1985, according to the Arizona Republic.
It ran through a subdivision Murphy established between Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street, Bethany Home and Northern Avenue, with the intent of creating a suburb that would attract wealthy residents.
The horseshoe sign went up when the path was dedicated to Murphy in 1948.
The 125-pound sign and plaque were stolen in 1986, but it was returned a few weeks later.
