Mayfield, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mayfield, Michigan
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| Nickname(s):
"Birthplace of the Adams Fly"
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 Mayfield, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Mayfield, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Grand Traverse |
| Township | Paradise |
| Settled | 1868 |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 231 |
| GNIS feature ID | 631772 |
Mayfield is a small, unincorporated community in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. This means it's a recognized place, but it doesn't have its own official local government or strict borders like a city or town. Mayfield is located in Paradise Township, between the towns of Kingsley and Traverse City. You can find it along South Garfield Road, also known as County Road 611.
Contents
The Story of Mayfield
Early Days and First Names
The land where Mayfield is located was originally home to the Council of Three Fires. This was a group of Native American tribes: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. They lived on and cared for this land for a very long time.
In 1868, the first settlers built a sawmill next to Swainston Creek. This creek flows into the Boardman River. Soon after, a grist mill was also built. A grist mill is a place where grain is ground into flour. The small settlement was first called Beulah.
How Mayfield Got Its Name
Just one year later, in 1869, the community received its own post office. At this time, the name was changed from Beulah to Mayfield. It was named after the nearby township that shared the same name. In 1872, a Pennsylvania Railroad line was built through Mayfield. This connected the community to other towns like Cadillac and Traverse City.
The Famous Adams Fly
Mayfield is known as the "Birthplace of the Adams Fly." This is a very popular type of fishing lure, specifically a dry fly, used for fly fishing. In 1922, a man named Leonard Halladay, who lived in Mayfield and was skilled at making fishing flies, created the Adams Fly. He designed it to look like a common insect called a mayfly.
The first person to use this new fly was Judge Charles F. Adams, a friend of Halladay's from Ohio. Judge Adams tried the fly on the Boardman River near Traverse City and had great success catching fish! When he told Halladay how well it worked, Halladay decided to name the fly after his friend, Judge Adams.
Mayfield Pond and the Creek
There was once a small body of water in Mayfield called Mayfield Pond. It was created on Swainston Creek. In 1961, a big rainstorm caused the pond to wash out. This event also led to the failure of the Keystone Dam, which was further upstream on the Boardman River. Years later, in 1987, the pond almost washed out again, but luckily, it was prevented.
