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…Continued from last week
In 1856, Sarah Wallis acquired Mayfield Farms to settle a debt of Elisha Oscar Crosby. Henceforth, the name “Mayfield” became permanently associated with the area.
She and her husband decided to settle in Mayfield. They built a two-story home and raised five children there.
In the 1860s, more folks decided to settle there, which became the impetus for new businesses, which included a drugstore, a hotel, another blacksmith, a livery stable, a lumber yard and a brewery.
A local newspaper known as the Mayfield Enterprise began publishing, which really put Mayfield on the map.
Rail service had been established between San Francisco and Mayfield by this time. Today, the former Mayfield depot is now called California Ave.
In 1878, Edward Barron purchased Mayfield Farm. Today, a neighborhood, a school, and a park are named after him. The neighborhood was officially absorbed into Palo Alto in 1975.
The town grew and flourished.
In 1886, Sen. Leland Stanford stood at the corner of El Camino Real and today’s California Avenue and laid out his vision for Mayfield. He told locals that he had plans for a major university in town. Part of the plan was he wanted Mayfield to become a “dry” town, which meant no alcohol. At the time, 13 saloons existed in Mayfield. Needless to say, Stanford’s request became a serious topic of discussion around town, especially regarding the “dry” town issue. After much rancor, the town rejected Stanford’s request to eliminate alcohol.
Everything else is just history
[Continued next week]
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