— River to Ridges Heritage Trail —
Chartered in 1837, the town of Buffalo predates the formation of Putnam County in 1848. Possibly named
after the nearby Big Buffalo Creek, the town was from its beginnings inextricably tied to river trade and
to agriculture. In its early days, many of the town's inhabitants earned a living as captains and crewmen
aboard river vessels that plied the length of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. Using this water route, area
farmers and craftsmen shipped their produce and wares to markets in other states. The town center,
located in front of you, contains the historic heart of this West Virginia community.
Buffalo Presbyterian Church. In the 1840s, Presbyterians in Buffalo petitioned the denomination's governing body in Greenbrier, WV, for permission to form a congregation and to erect a church. Approval came in 1856, with a dedication held for a newly built church in 1857.
Buffalo Academy. Built in 1849, the Buffalo Academy
offered a liberal education that was
unrivaled in the region. Occupied by
Union and Confederate armies, the
Academy closed permanently after
the Civil War. Into the early twentieth
century, the building served as a
public school.
Buffalo Bank.
The Buffalo Bank was founded in 1919
by several area residents, including
Thomas C. Atkeson of state agricultural
fame.
The present structure, built in
1929, remained in operation until 1963,
when it permanently closed its doors.
Buffalo Methodist Church.
Formed in 1833, the Buffalo Methodist
congregation in 1848 constructed a new
church building behind the Buffalo
Academy. After this structure burned
during the Civil War, the congregation
built the present building in 1870.
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