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Mayfield, Washington

Mayfield was named after the town’s first postmaster, H.T. Mayfield, who established a post office in 1890 or 1891 and ran it until his death in 1910. The town, built in a Cowlitz River canyon, consisted of a bridge across the river, a couple shops, a gas station, and a hotel known for its tasty food. The Chehalis and Cascade Railroad ran through Mayfield, and at one time the town served as a loading point for area timber products. The Mayfield area was also known for its delicious, high-yield honey, made by bees who feasted on fireweed nectar. By the time Mayfield Dam, built to generate hydroelectric power for Tacoma, displaced Mayfield in 1963, the hotel had long been closed and trains no longer ran through the town. Mayfield relocated to the west side of the river.