Cuyamaca History
Cuyamaca was the name given to the third iteration of the mining camp established at the Stonewall Mine. The gold-bearing deposit was first discovered in 1870, and mining began the following year. By 1873, enough people were living at the mine to justify a post office, which was established under the name Stonewall. The mine closed in 1875, and the post office closed the following year.
The property changed hands several times over the years until 1885, when the mine was brought back into production by then-owner James Stratton. In 1887, the camp at the mine gained a post office under the name Stratton. That same year, the mine was sold again, this time to Robert W. Waterman, who was a candidate for lieutenant governor of California at the time. Waterman won the election and, just eight months into his term, became governor of the state following the death of Governor Washington Bartlett.
The Stonewall Mine had its most productive years under Waterman, and in 1888 the growing camp changed its name to Cuyamaca. At peak production, the mine and mill employed about 75 men. Although the camp’s peak population is unknown, it was likely between 100 and 200. While this became the official name of the town, advertisements such as the one below for B. W. Tarwater General Merchandise suggest that the settlement was more commonly referred to as the Stonewall Mine.
The mine closed in 1893, but continued activity kept the settlement active for many years. In 1898, a cyanide reduction plant was built to process mill tailings from the site. Several attempts were made to restart the mine, but they were unsuccessful. The site was eventually abandoned, and the Cuyamaca post office closed in 1907.
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