By Jim McCarver
Ever wondered about the people behind the creation of your neighborhood or subdivision? Or how the street names in your area were chosen? In a recent interview with Flora Black, youngest daughter of Byron Black and his wife Murler, she described how Byron and Murler were instrumental in developing residential areas in the 50’s and 60’s located north of the Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center West campus in Prescott.
Byron was born in Marquette, Michigan. He served in WWI and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in France. In 1927, because of poor health, Byron, who had a sister in Winslow, moved to Arizona. In 1931 he was hoboing and “riding the rods” according to Flora. Stopping in Prescott, he immediately fell in love with the location. The following day, he was back in Winslow when an attractive neighbor named Murler Stewart knocked on his sister’s door. She needed help with a flat tire. Byron obliged, enjoying the chat as well. The next day, the tire was flat again. Byron always swore that Murler purposely let the air out of the tire. At any rate, the relationship blossomed, and they were married in Moki, Arizona, now a ghost town located east of Flagstaff.
The Blacks moved to Prescott in 1933. Until 1939 Byron worked as a dynamiter when the road from White Spar to Kirkland Junction was built. During this time, he also drove a school bus; delivered gas for the gas company to Chino, Seligman, Skull Valley, Kieckhefer Ranch and other ranches; worked as a rancher of sorts himself and operated the first restaurant at the Prescott airport. In 1939 he purchased the Morrell Ranch (located north of the present Dignity Health, YRMC West hospital). The price was $2500 for 147 acres. For a time, the Black family tried ranching by raising horses, cattle, chickens and goats. But with feed being expensive and hard to come by and livestock selling at low prices, Byron entertained the idea of subdividing and selling parcels of the 147 acres. This resulted in his developing five Prescott Heights subdivisions, as well as the Level Acres and Highland Park subdivisions.
Murler was responsible for the new subdivision street names, now located on the east side of Willow Creek just north of the Mountain View Cemetery. For example, a young married couple, Dan and Anita, chose a lot, although the street it was located on was unnamed. The couple was hesitant to buy the property. The couple returned later the same day and asked the Blacks if they would consider naming their street Danita. Byron and Murler agreed, and the couple bought the lot.
The Blacks had purchased a home in Phoenix that was located on Roma Avenue. They were building a new home in the Highland Park subdivision in Prescott and decided to name the new street Roma Avenue, to make it easier to remember their street name. Murler admired FDR and named a street, Delano Avenue, after Roosevelt's middle name. Murler’s maiden name was Stewart, which also became a street name.
Many other streets were named for family or friends. Byron’s sister was Grace, whose married surname was Demarse. Somehow this changed to Demerse. Mark Avenue was named after the son of Flora’s older brother. Richard Street and Douglas Street are named after one of the Black’s grandsons (two streets named after one person). Whetstine was a Prescott mayor, Rosser was a local rancher, and Bullis Lane was named after a local surveyor and good friend of Byron’s. One last street warrants mention. Flora Street was named after the daughter who provided all this interesting information.
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