Mayfield, Washington Explained

Official Name:Mayfield, Washington
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Washington#USA
Pushpin Label:Mayfield
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Washington
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lewis
Established Date:1895
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation M:130
Elevation Ft: 427
Coordinates:46.5086°N -122.5692°W
Postal Code Type:zip code
Postal Code:98564
Area Code:360

Mayfield is an unincorporated community on the southern shore of Lake Mayfield in Lewis County, Washington. It is located off U.S. Route 12, east of Silver Creek. The Mayfield Dam, which supplies hydroelectricity to Tacoma and its neighboring cities, sits 1-mile west of the area.

History

Before the arrival of non-native settlers, the location was used as a village for Native American people.[1] A post office for the territory was established in 1890 or 1891 and named Ferry, in recognition of Washington state's first governor.[2] The community's eponym changed to Mayfield in either 1891 or 1895 and was done so in homage to the location's first postmaster, H.T. (or W.H.) Mayfield.[3] [4] [5]

The original center of the town was vacated and razed, with homes relocated to the surrounding area, beginning in 1955 during the building of the Mayfield Dam. The post office would be moved, but quickly close, in 1962 when the area was flooded over that year just as the dam neared completion; the old town is permanently underwater.[1] [6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Mittge . Brian . Living and dying by the lake . 13 December 2021 . The Chronicle . April 6, 2002 . 37–38.
  2. Web site: Post Offices. Jim Forte Postal History . 14 August 2016.
  3. News: Mayfield Had To Fight To Land Postoffice . 13 December 2021 . The Centralia Daily Chronicle . June 6, 1953 . 18C.
  4. Book: Meany, Edmond S.. Origin of Washington geographic names. 1923. University of Washington Press. Seattle. 161.
  5. Web site: Lewis County - Mayfield . jtenlen.drizzlehosting.com . Lewis Co., WA GenWeb Project.
  6. News: The Chronicle Staff . From the Files: Mayfield Post Office To Close April 13 . 13 December 2021 . The Chronicle . April 10, 2012.
  7. News: Mittge . Brian . Remembering Mayfield, the Town Beneath the Lake . 13 December 2021 . The Chronicle . June 16, 2015.