{"id":558,"date":"2020-03-16T19:17:27","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T16:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/100steps.info\/?page_id=558"},"modified":"2020-03-16T19:17:27","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T16:17:27","slug":"muriel-o-ponsler-the-woman-behind-the-wayside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thisamericandream.com\/muriel-o-ponsler-the-woman-behind-the-wayside\/","title":{"rendered":"Muriel O. Ponsler: The Woman Behind the Wayside"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve driven between Florence and Yachats, you\u2019ve passed the sign for Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial Wayside<\/a> at the north end of coastal Lane County. When adding this beach to 100 Steps,<\/em> I asked the natural question: Who was Muriel O. Ponsler?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a plaque on site, the park is named for a loved one of Jack C. Ponsler, who donated the land to the State Parks in dedication to his wife Muriel after her death. That\u2019s certainly interesting\u2026but I wanted to peek into their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I did some searching, I found no comprehensive overview of the couple or the park. What I discovered initially were dry vital statistics: birth, marriage, and death records, census records, motor vehicle registrations. This told me a bit about them, but it was not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was through newspaper references that Muriel and Jack shifted from a set of facts into three-dimensional personalities. Newspapers were the social media of the times. Much like today\u2019s online social networking sites, they recorded \u201chappenings\u201d in people\u2019s lives, although in text only. Highlights of party and club gatherings were described including decorations and attendee lists. Town visitor arrivals and departures were noted, resident\u2019s out-of-town trips were shared, and significant purchases were outlined. The headlines, advertisements, significant events, and even the comics in these papers gave me a \u201cfeel\u201d of the era some 100 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since all of this data on the Ponslers is scattered across the web (and some on microfilm), I thought I\u2019d share my findings in a consolidated article. Over a period of several weeks I\u2019ve been transported back to an older Oregon, shared through the lives of Muriel and Jack Ponsler. I cannot convey all of that with a few paragraphs and photos, but if I do so in some small degree then I\u2019ll consider this effort a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I, Muriel O. Grant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On September 21, 1897 Muriel Olivia Grant was born to Glenn and Alice Grant. She grew up in Dallas, Oregon with one sibling, Haldon, a brother eight years younger.[i]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a youth Muriel was accomplished in piano, enjoyed play acting, and attended many parties and banquets where she sometimes performed instrumental solos. While attending Dallas High School she participated in a number of clubs including the Camp Fire Girls, Young Women\u2019s Christian Association (YWCA), and the Philogian Literary Society.[ii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Junior yearbook describes the Camp Fire Girls outings in 1914:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe camp here has been on one trip of three days and a number of all day trips. On the camping trip, which was in the mountains, the girls arose one morning and beheld a large deer in the stream by which they were camped. Girl-like, the ones who discovered it, in no quiet voice announced its presence and, consequently, the deer decided it would be best for it to leave.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

She graduated from Dallas High School in June 1915, part of what was considered a \u201clarge\u201d graduating class of 30, more than double the prior year\u2019s graduate count. The \u201ccommencement exercise\u201d involved a week-long list of music, speeches, receptions, and banquets.[iii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muriel\u2019s social activities continued after high school, with her both attending and hostessing many parties. Holiday celebrations such as Valentine\u2019s Day, Christmas, and New Year\u2019s were a must. Guests entered a space specially decorated for the occasion. Party antics included dining, dancing, vocal and instrumental performances, cards (Five Hundred<\/a> was popular), and even \u2013 particularly when Muriel was hostess \u2013 theater.[iv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One such occasion involved entertaining Lamar Tooze, student representative from the University of Oregon on the Henry Ford Peace Mission<\/a> prior to the United States entry into World War I.[v]<\/a> Although the peace effort was ultimately ridiculed, Mr. Tooze was considered a person of some renown in Oregon at the time. The dinner was held March 31, 1916, after he had returned from the expedition. The event made the front page of The Sunday Oregonian<\/em>, a newspaper out of Portland, with this headline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The headline was followed by a photo \u2013 rare in the papers compared to modern times \u2013 of the hostesses decked out in their ceremonial Indian costumes. As the caption notes, Muriel is the first girl in the middle row.[vi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the banquet, the article describes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn enjoyable four-course dinner was served, with Miss Muriel Grant presiding. Following the dinner Mr. Tooze related his experiences in securing his passports to accompany the Ford expedition.\u201d [vii]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That passport story<\/a>, by the way, is why Mr. Tooze was aboard the second peace ship, Frederick VIII, rather than the more famous Oscar II<\/a>.[viii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although clearly in the heart of the social scene, touted as \u201cone of the most popular members of the younger set in Dallas\u201d, Muriel was more than a socialite. By 1917, at the age of 20, she worked at The Polk County Observer<\/em> as city editor. When the paper\u2019s manager left for \u201cUnited States service,\u201d presumably for duties related to World War I, Muriel acted as interim manager. [ix]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She left both Dallas and The Observer<\/em> to become the \u201cadvertising solicitor\u201d for The Salem Statesman <\/em>in January of 1918, moving east to the state capital with a population over six times larger than her home town. The paper later expanded her role to include society editor, an obvious fit since she was well anchored in the social limelight herself.<\/em> She remained at The Salem Statesman <\/em>for a year and a half, and then returned to Dallas and her old job.[x]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Thee, Jack C. Ponsler<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chester William Ponsler was born on October 30, 1884, in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, the son of Jacob and Lizeabeth. At the beginning of the new century, the Ponsler family moved west, landing in San Bernardino. His dad being a carpenter, it was natural for Chester to follow in his footsteps, and in 1906 he was working as a shingler.[xi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1909, Chester left California, heading north to McMinnville, Oregon. At around the same timeframe, he decided he preferred being called Jack, so records refer to him as Jack C. Ponsler or J. C. Ponsler from this time forward.[xii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack\u2019s first marriage was to Eden Marion Briedwell on November 10, 1909. Eden was born on October 22, 1889 to Edgar and Elnora Briedwell. She graduated from McMinnville High School in in 1907. Eden had lived in Oregon her entire life when she met Jack.[xiii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack continued to work in home construction as a shingler in the early years of their marriage, and the couple remained in McMinnville. By 1918 Jack had become a tractor expert. This corresponds with the time Ford started selling tractors in the U.S. under the brand name Fordson<\/a>. Jack\u2019s handiness let him move into servicing this farm equipment, and his affability allowed him to branch into sales.   Eden had no trade or profession .[xiv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact date of their divorce is unclear, but they were married nine or ten years. Jack listed Eden as his wife on his World War I Draft Registration card dated September 1918, yet the January 1920 McMinnville census shows Eden M. Ponsler living with her parents, with a marital status of Divorced. The divorce must have occurred between these two events, most likely prior to November of 1919 when Jack became district sales manager for Shattuck Motor Company, moving south 24 miles to Dallas to pursue auto sales.[xv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Have and to Hold<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is unclear how Muriel met Jack. Given that she handled advertising for the Salem newspaper, perhaps they encountered one another while Jack placed an ad supporting his sales efforts. Or maybe they attended a party held by a mutual acquaintance. Perhaps he saw her in a play and approached her to personally applaud her performance. It may be he was charmed by a tune she turned on the piano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the means, they met. Muriel\u2019s youthful exuberance, social connections, and entertainment talents well complemented Jack\u2019s burgeoning auto sales career. What followed was somewhat of a whirlwind romance, and on July 5, 1920, Muriel O. Grant married Jack C. Ponsler in Vancouver, Washington.[xvi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did this event come about? And how did Washington enter the picture? This clipping from her prior employer recounts how it happened:[xvii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The newlyweds remained in Dallas after their marriage. Both continued their previous work.[xviii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Love and to Cherish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On May 17, 1921, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ponsler left Dallas heading 140 miles south to Roseburg. Jack had lined up a sales manager job covering a large region with C.A. Lockwood Motor Company. According to a Salem-based newspaper, \u201cHe has always been a Ford salesman and a very successful one.\u201d His prior repair experience must have been a bonus, since Lockwood Motor Co had a tractor service department.[xix]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack was in the right industry at the right time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMass production made technology affordable to the middle class. The automobile, movie, radio, and chemical industries skyrocketed during the 1920s. Of chief importance was the automobile industry. Before the war, cars were a luxury. In the 1920s, mass-produced vehicles became common throughout the U.S. and Canada.\u201d Wikipedia<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

By 1924 the Ponslers owned their own vehicle, first a coupe followed the next year by a sedan. Both Fords, of course.[xx]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muriel was the epitome of a small-town modern \u201820s woman. Frequently in the society pages, she enlivened her social standing in a new city by regaling guests with parties and bridge. She was a member of several clubs and was elected president of the newly formed Roseburg women\u2019s club. On agenda were discussions of women\u2019s matters, charitable activities, card play, and musical programs. Luncheons or refreshments were always served, with flowers and seasonal decorations adorning the hostess\u2019 home.[xxi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this Day Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jack\u2019s ambition to be his own boss instigated another move, this time to the relatively undeveloped coastal community of Florence. On September 13, 1927, the Ponslers left Roseburg to open J. C. Ponsler Motor Company. This Ford agency and service center assigned to western Lane County had territory boundaries of Reedsport, Triangle Lake, and Roosevelt Beach. Muriel supported the new family business working as bookkeeper and \u201cright hand helper in the office.\u201d[xxii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eugene Guard<\/em> paints a picture of the coastal region at the time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Jack Ponsler and his wife, Muriel, moved to Florence [\u2026], the Western Lane country was still in the primitive. The Siuslaw highway was not completed. From Mapleton to Florence the path was along the cliffs of the perilous old \u201cRiver road\u201d or over the tortuous switchbacks of the North Fork route and the Mapleton hill. Along the coast from Gardiner all the way to Newport, it was a maze of treacherous sand tracks, beach runs or spectacular \u201cgoat climbs\u201d over such promontories as Cape Perpetua or Heceta Head.\u201d [xxiii]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Where others may have been deterred, the Ponslers saw opportunity. Over the next couple of years, they focused on growing the business, selling Fords and servicing both Fords and farm equipment. The local newspaper sported a different J. C. Ponsler Motor Company ad each week. Given Muriel\u2019s background in advertising from her time in Salem, the ads were probably her handiwork.[xxiv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within months of their arrival in Florence they expanded the garage. Jack joined the Chamber of Commerce and was soon elected secretary, an office he held for several years. Business was good, allowing them to purchase investment property, rental homes and buildings, as well as luxury items for themselves, including a 1928 Model A Fordor sedan.[xxv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Better, For Worse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As with their prior places of residence, Muriel and Jack were active in the community of Florence. It does not take long to get to know your neighbors when there are only a few hundred, and the couple was not shy. Muriel frequently held and attended parties, with Jack co-hosting on occasion. She participated in club events, serving food and playing piano accompaniment to others\u2019 vocals for the enjoyment of the group.[xxvi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple initially rented a home in town on Washington Street (renamed to Laurel in 1955) for a monthly fee of $20, which was considerably higher than the $5 norm. Success with their business ventures allowed them to own their own home by 1935, valued at $1500. Muriel gardened; Jack fished and hunted. Both travelled together or independently, depending on the trip\u2019s purpose or destination. Family visits and business trips alike were combined with outings to view coastal sights and development progress \u2013 a new tunnel, the lighthouse, a fresh section of road, the sea lion cave, and of course miles and miles of lovely sea. [xxvii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muriel exercised her journalism skills on occasion, acting as \u201cRegister Florence Correspondent\u201d for the Eugene-based Morning Register<\/em>.   She authored a long piece on road issues and state highway commission discussions, which covered \u201cWillamette Valley to Florence route\u201d planning. A key take-away from the meeting was \u201cpeople of Florence favor the route which leads down the Siuslaw river, rather than that over the North Fork hill.\u201d[xxviii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ponslers wanted to share \u201cthe ocean ozone and Florence scenery\u201d with family and friends, tourists and guests. Muriel was known for her warm reception of out-of-towners, commonly offering a feast of coastal delicacies. Their hospitality and support for travel to Western Lane extended to offering a pet restroom for the dogs and cats accompanying their human visitors, an early day doggie day care.[xxix]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eugene Guard<\/em> notes the Ponslers impact on the community of Florence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ponslers had certain qualities of enthusiasm which soon made them as well known as the pioneers of the country. In their hospitable home, many a next step in the ambitious road program was planned. To their home or to their place of business came a long procession of visitors official and unofficial from \u201coutside.\u201d Devoted to fishing and hunting the Ponslers were authorities on \u201cwhere to go\u201d and \u201cwhat to do.\u201d In a few short years their personalities were marked on Western Lane. [xxx]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Richer, For Poorer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Support for road development, as well as promoting coastal tourism, was a natural extension of Jack\u2019s profession. The local paper remarked Jack was \u201cpepped up over good roads more than anybody.\u201d[xxxi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key milestone for both of these goals was the building and opening of the Siuslaw River Bridge. One of five final spans completing the Oregon Coast Highway, it was open for travel in 1936.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe state highway department ordered the ferryboat service between Florence and Glenada to stop at noon on March 31, and simultaneously the barriers on the bridge were opened. More than a hundred cars were in line to be the first to cross the new structure.\u201d[xxxii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this event, Jack took a photo from a construction-related tower on the south side of the bridge depicting the new river crossing packed with cars going both directions. This photo ended up in many Oregon newspapers reporting on the event. Although hosting responsibilities prevented them from being in the initial group who traversed the span, it seems certain that Jack and Muriel in their latest model Ford were amongst those who crossed on that momentous day.[xxxiii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official bridge dedication was held two months later on May 25. Jack was a significant contributor to the celebratory planning, including collaborating with officials in Salem prior to the event. Earl Hill, who served on the Chamber of Commerce with Jack, led the proceedings on dedication day. Jack acted as reception committee chairman. Noted by the Salem-based paper which previously employed Muriel, \u201cThe ceremonies were followed by an outdoor seafood dinner served by the women of Florence.\u201d There is no doubt Muriel was in the thick on those preparations and did a fabulous job co-hostessing the event.[xxxiv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coinciding with the bridge opening, in anticipation of both tourist and local growth for the area, the Ponslers had a new building constructed to house J. C. Ponsler Motor Company, with space for service, sales, and offices. Located on new coast highway and Adams Street (renamed to Laurel in 1955), when complete it was touted as \u201cone of the five best [buildings] on the whole Coast highway.\u201d This was yet another well-timed move. Although the Florence population grew by only 12 between 1920 and 1930, the 1930 count of 329 people blossomed to 458 by 1940, more than a 25% increase.[xxxv]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sickness and In Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In August 1938, Muriel was hospitalized for 10 days after an operation. Her specific ailment was not elaborated, but it was serious enough that when she returned to Florence she could no longer perform her office duties supporting the garage business. At the end of January 1939 the Ponslers sold J. C. Ponsler Motor Company, citing plans to \u201cspend several months travelling for the benefit of Mrs. Ponsler\u2019s health.\u201d[xxxvi]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That travel included a trip to the Golden Gate International Exposition<\/a> which opened February 18.[xxxvii]<\/a>  It\u2019s pleasing to picture them strolling together around Treasure Island<\/a> during the opening weeks at San Francisco\u2019s last World\u2019s Fair. They would have viewed the architectural grandeur of the likes of the Tower of the Sun<\/a>, Court of the Moon<\/a>, Arch of Triumph<\/a>, and Elephant Towers<\/a>. Due to Muriel\u2019s love of flowers, the Flower Court<\/a> was a likely destination, perhaps passing fountains en route in the Court of Pacifica<\/a> or at the feet of the Star Lady<\/a>. They would have watched parades, been entertained by regional dancing, and passed through country-themed exhibits like those for Argentina<\/a> or Japan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s actual footage of the 1939 San Francisco World\u2019s Fair:<\/p>\n\n\n\n