Keystone, Adams County, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keystone
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Postmark from Keystone Postoffice 1910
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 Keystone
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Founded | ca. 1885 |
| Elevation | 1,936 ft (590 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1511519 |
Keystone was a small town in Adams County, Washington. Today, it is known as a ghost town, meaning it was once a lively place but is now mostly abandoned. It was located along the Northern Pacific Railroad, about 16 miles northeast of Ritzville.
The town got its name from Pennsylvania, which is often called the "Keystone State." An early postmaster, who was in charge of the local mail, came from Pennsylvania.
Contents
Early Days of Keystone
Even before it was officially called Keystone, the area had a post office named Harriston. This post office was open from October 1883 to September 1884.
People believe the name Keystone was used as early as 1880. A newspaper report from that year called it a new "railroad town." This shows how important the railroad was to its beginning.
Life in Keystone in 1907
In 1907, a book called the Gazetteer described Keystone as a small station with about 20 people. Even with a small population, it had several businesses.
- Smith & Sons: A general store where people could buy many different things.
- Carmichael Brothers: They also ran a general store and a hotel.
- E.M. Robish: Sold lumber and fuel, which were important for building and heating homes.
- John W. Smith: A blacksmith who worked with metal. He was likely Keystone's first postmaster.
Keystone was also a key place for shipping grain. In 1907, companies like C.L. Fish, Kerr, Gifford and Company, and Puget Sound Wholesale Company were involved in the grain business there.
John W. Smith's Story
John W. Smith was born in 1856 in Pennsylvania. He learned the skill of blacksmithing and opened his first shop in Illinois. Later, in 1883, he moved west to Oregon and then to Rockford, Washington. In Rockford, he built the first brick building in that town.
John W. Smith was also involved in politics. In 1889, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. This was a big meeting where important rules for the state were decided. He moved to Keystone in 1901.
Postmasters and the End of Mail Service
A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office. Keystone had several postmasters over the years:
- John W. Smith: Started on October 23, 1901.
- David W. Circle: Took over on March 25, 1905.
- Rolla T. Stone: Became postmaster on August 21, 1909.
- Myrtle S. VanBuren: The last postmaster, starting on August 2, 1912.
Mail service in Keystone officially stopped on May 1, 1925. After that, all mail for Keystone was sent to Sprague, a town in Lincoln County. This often happens when a town becomes a ghost town, as fewer people live there.
