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The extreme weather hit especially hard in Graves County where 20 deaths have been confirmed. Many buildings in Mayfield’s downtown were leveled by the storm’s powerful force.
Established in 1824, Mayfield was a tobacco market town in the mid-19th century. According to architectural historian Janie-Rice Brother, the city grew in the 20th century and developed a nine block Downtown Commercial District which had many Victorian and Classical Revival commercial, religious, governmental, and industrial buildings. Most of the structures in the district have been destroyed.
Before-and-after images from the ground and satellite images of some of those historic buildings show the impact of the storm on the city of 10,000. Many of the structures lie in piles of rubble.
Graves County Courthouse
The Graves County Courthouse, picture taken left Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 after deadly tornadoes swept through Mayfield and on the right in July 2018. Ryan Hermens, left, Janie-Rice Brother rhermens@herald-leader.com
Carr’s Steakhouse on West Broadway in Mayfield lies in a pile of rubble on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The historic buildings that housed Carr’s Steakhouse, shown at far left, on West Broadway in July 2018. Janie-Rice Brother
First Christian Church, South 9th Street
The First Christian Church on South 9th Street in downtown Mayfield, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The First Christian Church is one of the town’s oldest church buildings, built in 1906. Janie-Rice Brother
Post office, West Broadway
The downtown post office in Mayfield,. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 on West Broadway. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The Mayfield post office was built in 1910. Janie-Rice Brother
Debi’s Tax Service, West Broadway
This building shown Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 on Mayfield’s West Broadway housed Debi’s Tax Sevice. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
A photo of Debi’s Tax Service in Mayfield taken in the summer of 2018. Janie-Rice Brother
First Presbyterian Church, West Broadway
The First Presbyterian Church on West Broadway in downtown Mayfield, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The First Presbyterian Church has roots in Mayfield that go back to 1832, but the cornerstone for the West Broadway church was set in 1915. Janie-Rice Brother
Mayfield Electric and Water Systems, East Broadway
The Mayfield Electric and Water Systems building on East Broadway. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The Mayfield Electric and Water Systems building in downtown Mayfield, Ky. in the summer of 2018. Janie-Rice Brother
This story was originally published December 13, 2021 at 1:38 PM.
Brian Simms has been with the Herald-Leader for 20-plus years, most recently reporting and editing coverage of restaurants, bars, food and bourbon. He is also a photographer and manages the newspapers photo archive that dates back to the late 1930s.Support my work with a digital subscription
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