MEXICO — Earl Murray of Richards Avenue celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends on Dec. 14 at the home of Ken and Jeannine Murray in Murray’s Cove at Worthley Pond, Peru.

Earle had cleared this land and built the camp in 1947. He continued to clear this property which was to become Murray’s Cove Beach and Campground, a destination enjoyed by Rumford area residents from the early 1950s to the present.

On his birthday, Dec. 4, he was visited by several town officials and Rep. Sheryl Briggs. Earl, who holds the Boston Post cane, was presented with congratulatory letters from President Obama, Gov. LePage, Susan Collins, Mike Michaud, Angus King, Scott Willard, the Maine Legislature and the Mexico selectmen.

Earl’s family includes three children, Roger, Ken and Darlene; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. One of six siblings, Earl was born and raised on Richards Avenue. He and his sister, Annie, 93, are still residents of this neighborhood.