Megler Pacific County, Washington
MEGLER: Abandoned Ilwaco railroad terminus and ferry dock on the Columbia River between Point Ellice and Cliff Point, 1907-1966. Named for Joseph G. Megler. Megler was born in Germany, educated in New York City, fought in the Civil War, operated a hotel in Astoria, entered the salmon cannery business at Chenookville in 1871, formed the J. G. Megler Company and founded Brookfield (Wahkiakum County) in 1873, and was a state legislator from Pacific/Wahkiakum counties for 22 years. Respect for Megler led the Ilwaco railroad to name their Columbia River terminus for him in 1908. The site was initially a fishing station built by Astorian Marshall Kenney in 1880. Megler used the site for a fish receiving station in 1883. The Ilwaco railroad bought the deep water site for their terminus around 1906 and initially cal led it "Cook's Station". When the first train arrived at the train terminus and ferry dock in 1908 the name had been changed to Megler Station. Automobile traffic finally forced the Ilwaco railroad to discontinue train service on September 9, 1930. Ferries operated by Fritz Elfving and later the Oregon Department of Highways continued to serve the Megler to Astoria run until July 29, 1966, when the last regular ferry operation ceased with the opening of the Astoria Bridge.
Mapped Location
Megler: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Megler
- Feature Type: Place
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Megler
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Megler | Official |
Origin Notes and History of Megler
References to Megler that document the origin of its place name
MEGLER, a town on the north bank of the Columbia River, in Pacific County, named for the pioneer legislator, Joseph G. Megler, who maintained a fish cannery at Brookfield. Mr. Megler died on September 10, 1915. (Postmaster at McGowan, in Names MSS.,Letter 55.)
HUNGRY HARBOR, a bay on the north bank of the Columbia River, east of Megler, in Pacific County. Fishermen claim that seven men drifted into the bay and starved to death. It is an ideal shelter for small boats and fishermen frequently anchor there to eat their meals, which may be another origin of the name. (H. B. Stettin, Knappton, in Names MSS., Letter 93.)
Pacific County
- Balevile (historical)
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Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2026-09-27