Centerfield

Centerfield started as Gunnison's overflow. Families began farming this ground in the early 1860s under squatter's rights, later paying a $1.25 filing fee to make it legal, watering their fields from the Sanpitch River and mountain springs. For decades the place was simply "The Field" or "South Gunnison" — school in a settler's home, church as a branch of the Gunnison ward. Its own congregation came in 1897, and with it a name chosen for plain geography: the central field in fertile ground. It is still farm country on US-89 today.

What the plaque says

Gunnison settlers began farming the land to the south in the early 1860's, each claiming his acreage under "Squatter's Rights" and later paying a filing fee of $1.25. Water was obtained from the Sanpitch River and fresh mountain springs. By 1877 Michael Nielsen, Chris Sanders, and William D. Child had constructed homes and others soon followed. School was first taught by Marie Gribble in her home. Joseph Christensen later taught the first public school and Harriet Higham served as the area midwife. Primary and Sunday School branches of the Gunnison L.D.S. Ward were formed in 1882. The Centerfield Ward was organized in 1897 with Andrew Fjeldsted as bishop. The town name was chosen at that time due to its central location in a fertile field. A post office was established in 1898 with Loraine Anderson as post mistress. Centerfield was incorporated in 1909 with Lars C. Myrup serving as town president. Small plaque above marker April 9, 1963, this bell was saved from a fire that burned the 81 year old Centerfield Public School building. The school board gave the bell to the Centerfield DUP Camp.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Gunnison — 2.3 mi
  Sanpete's southern hub, home to Utah's oldest operating theater
• Mayfield — 5.9 mi
  Gateway to Twelve Mile Canyon and the Skyline Drive high country
• Sterling — 8.5 mi
  A highway hamlet and the doorway to Palisade State Park
• Palisade State Park — 10 mi
  A pioneer-built lake turned central Utah's favorite state park

More markers nearby

• First Public Buildings — steps away
• Gunnison Pioneers — 2.6 mi
• Gunnison Valley Veterans Memorial — 2.6 mi
• Gunnison Honor Roll — 2.6 mi