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From a brief observation, it
appears not much was required to open a post office in the early days. Pertinent information for our area is as
follows:
GUENOC -
The village of Guenoc
derived its name from the Guenoc Land Grant that was first awarded to George
Rock in 1845. The post office was
established in 1867 and was discontinued in 1880 when the village of Guenoc
moved to Middletown. The village of Guenoc lay in the Coyote Valley 6
miles north of Middletown near where the Hidden Valley Lake Subdivision is
today.
KAYOTE
-
Kayote post office was
located in Kayote Valley, along the Old Soldier Road, the first road into
Lake County, about 6 miles east and north of Middletown. The road was also
known as the Old Immigrant Road.
When the post office was established in 1859, it was in Napa County.
The post office was discontinued in 1862, and there is no evidence
remaining of an early settlement in the area. The only postmaster was John Kean
appointed July 15, 1859.
(EDITOR’S NOTE) My guess is
the Kayote Valley was the valley between Wennock Valley and Coyote Valley
as the old road would have gone through that area.
MIDDLETOWN
-
Some of the buildings and residents
moved from Guenoc to Middletown once it was clear Middletown would prosper.
The post office began in April 1871 under the name of MIDDLETON, and the
name was changed to MIDDLETOWN in July 1875.
Reference:
California’s Lake County Places and
Postal History
By: Erving R. Feltman
© 1993 by The Depot
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