Fairfax
Pierce county
http://www.ghosttownsofwashington.com/Fairfax.html
http://matterhorn3.co.pierce.wa.us/publicgis/
Fairfax was 6 miles south of Carbonado, across the O'Farrell bridge.
At the Y, with the upper (right) road leading to Mowich Lake ... take the left fork.
This was a coal and lumber town. Mining ceased after WW1
The buildings are all but gone now. Pillars for the mine buildings remain as well as the school swimming pool, a few coke ovens and the center pivot foundation for the railroad turntable.
Getting there is fairly easy down a slightly sloping road from the Carbon River Road, with several downed trees, small streams and muddy spots along the way
The entrance to the old road is on Carbon River Road, at 47.0114812, -122.021275
The pool (basement) of the school is at N47.01206, W122.01683 ... surrounded by trees.
The pivot for the turntable is at N47.01079 W122.01484
Several bridges ... one downstream to Melmont, another much closer to the town. Both have washed away.
The upstream bridge ruins are at 47.012590, -122.012420
The hotel and schoolhouse burned down.
Overview picture from Jim Fredrickson's collection
Photos from Jim's collection of can be purchased by sending an email to him at: jimfrednpvet@harbornet.com.
From Fairfax WA
From Fairfax WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7foEBwmZ_Q&feature=related
http://www.ghosttownsofwashington.com/Fairfax.html
Fairfax Railroad Depot. Looking east. Railroad turntable would have been behind the depot (as we are looking at it).
http://research.nprha.org/NP%20Depots/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=153
Railroad depot, with superintendent's house on hill.
From Fairfax WA
More pictures at geocaching.com
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gallery.aspx?guid=68d6f9c9-d548-45cb-a1ed-321558cdb43d
http://forums.ghosttowns.com/showthread.php?18143-Carbon-River-Valley-Washington&p=47336#post47336
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax,_Washington
http://northwestjournalonline.com/index.php/puget-sound-ghost-towns
Fairfax was once a busy coal-mining town a dozen miles south of Buckley on the Carbon River in central Pierce County. Sixty coke ovens were in operation in 1902. It was named by W. A.McNeil, who came from Fairfax, Iowa. The Iowa town had been named for Fairfax County, Virginia. Lower Fairfax is completely deserted while there are some homes in Upper Fairfax on the northside of the river.
history http://friendsofthecarboncanyon.org/Documents/Local%20Community%20History.pdf
Pics by Kyle Stubbs
http://img694.imageshack.us/g/p1060814g.jpg/
and
http://forums.ghosttowns.com/showthread.php?18143-Carbon-River-Valley-Washington
http://forums.ghosttowns.com/showthread.php?18143-Carbon-River-Valley-Washington/page2
Lumber camp
My pictures from 2010 and 2011
Notes
http://research.nprha.org/Lists/Station_Roster_Master_List/DispForm.aspx?ID=33651 says
Fairfax is between Melmont and the end of the line, 14 miles south of Enumclaw on the Carbon River in central Pierce County. It was named by W A McNeil in honor of Fairfax, Iowa, which was named in honor of Fairfax, Virginia. In 1903, the town hosted 60 coke ovens. The post office operated from November 2, 1898 until March 15, 1943. Not to be confused with Fairfax, Minnesota. Pierce County, Washington (S35, T18N, R5E)
Fairwax is was at milepost 32.9, with Kanaskat being mile 0. Depot abandoned 1945.7.43
View Fairfax in a larger map
Fairfax School (on Evans Creek), 1927
Visits
2010-07-24 Tried and failed to find Fairfax today. Looked at a road ... but it looked a bit too difficult to travel, and it might not be the right road.
2010-10-26 Walked the rest of the way down the road (it was the right one, and not too difficult) to Fairfax. Didn't find much ... need to wander farther among the weeds.
2011-09-23 Success. Found the RR turntable pivot again, walked out to the river, saw where the bridge was. Then found what was the pool at the school. Next time ... the coke ovens and perhaps the baseball field (if there's anything left).