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May 26, 1913 – Grand Rapids, Mich. -A quiet cigarette break in John Ball Park ended in handcuffs for Mrs. Edward Dandell, who was arrested after lighting up beside her sleeping husband on a park bench. According to eyewitness accounts, several female sightseers objected to the sight of a woman smoking in public and summoned a park officer. The couple was arrested, and their last five dollars were reportedly used to bail her out, leaving Mr. Dandell to accept the remaining sentence. At the time, public smoking by women was often viewed as scandalous and a challenge to traditional norms of feminine behavior.
The arrest reflects the severe social restrictions placed on women in the early 20th century. In 1913, women still lacked the right to vote in Michigan—a right they would not gain statewide until 1918 and nationally until 1920. Smoking in public was seen as unladylike and rebellious, especially before the flapper era challenged those ideals in the 1920s. While no explicit law barred Mrs. Dandell’s action, the strong reaction from bystanders and police enforcement shows how deeply rooted gender roles shaped everyday freedoms. Her case underscores the slow and uneven march toward gender equality in American public life.
