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Huntington's first school opened in 1872 to meet the needs of a growing population. The original school building was constructed at 720 4th Avenue, near the Cabell County courthouse and Huntington City Hall. In 1897, a larger school was built on 6th Street and 5th Avenue to replace it. Both buildings were named Buffington School, after one of the earliest families to settle in the Huntington area. The new Buffington School operated until 1976, when it was purchased by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Twenty years later, the John Clark Oil Company purchased the building and demolished it, making way for a gas station and convenience store.

Students gathered outside the original Buffington School

Students gathered outside the original Buffington School

The original Buffington School on 4th Avenue

The original Buffington School on 4th Avenue

Depiction of the original Buffington School building on 7th Street and 4th Avenue

Depiction of the original Buffington School building on 7th Street and 4th Avenue

Peter Cline Buffington, first mayor of Huntington and namesake of Buffington School

Peter Cline Buffington, first mayor of Huntington and namesake of Buffington School

Students and teachers at Buffington School, circa 1885

Students and teachers at Buffington School, circa 1885

Students and teachers at Buffington School, circa 1895

Students and teachers at Buffington School, circa 1895

The replacement school building, known as Buffington Elementary, operated from 1898-1976.

The replacement school building, known as Buffington Elementary, operated from 1898-1976.

Post Card of the second Buffington School

Post Card of the second Buffington School

Students at Buffington Elementary School

Students at Buffington Elementary School

West Virginia instituted a free public school system shortly after it became a state in 1863. When Huntington was founded in 1871, it became necessary to establish a school for the city’s growing population. In 1872, a four-room brick school building was constructed on the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue. It was named Buffington School after one of the oldest and most influential families in the area prior to Huntington’s foundation. As early as 1785, Thomas and Ann Buffington settled in what became Guyandotte after Thomas inherited a farm that had been granted to his father for his service in the French and Indian Wars. The Buffingtons established a large estate where they and their descendants lived for generations. Peter Cline Buffington, a grandson of Thomas and Ann, was elected Huntington's first mayor in 1871.

Soon after its establishment, the high rate of Huntington’s population growth necessitated the expansion of the Buffington School. In 1882, it was doubled to eight rooms. This soon proved inadequate as well, and in 1897 a larger school was constructed at the corner of 6th Street and 5th Avenue. The original school building was subsequently donated to the city to be used as Huntington’s first hospital. The new building, an imposing brick structure with Victorian features, was more elaborate than the original school’s modest design. The school’s first principal was Sallie Peyton, who was paid $60 a month. 

The opening of additional schools, as well as shifting demographics in Huntington, led to a steady decline in attendance at Buffington. Enrollment dropped from a peak of over three hundred students to a little more than one hundred by the 1970s. The low enrollment made it difficult to justify the expenses for maintaining the aging school building, and in 1976 Buffington was closed by the school board. Soon afterwards, the building was purchased at an auction by Huntington Lodge 64 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). In 1996, the building was sold again to John W. Clark Oil Company, who soon demolished it to make room for a gas station. 

“Buffington Elementary.” Cabell County Schools.” Accessed July 12, 2019. http://www.cabellschools.com/about/district_history/public_schools/buffington_elementary.

Casto, James E. Huntington: An Illustrated History. Northridge, CA: Windsor Publications, Inc., 1985. 

Casto, James E. “Lost Huntington: Buffington Elementary.” Herald-Dispatch. March 23, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2019. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/special/lost_huntington/lost-huntington-buffington-elementary/article_647103d3-d146-5625-bfd2-ae2e7dd3d993.html. 

McMillan, Don Daniel IV. “Buffington house remains oldest historic home still occupied.” Herald Dispatch. March 1, 2008. Accessed July 12, 2019. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/don-daniel-mcmillian-iv-buffington-house-remains-oldest-historic-home/article_95390576-4673-5295-b93a-b1e0c23008e8.html.

Morgan, Benjamin S. Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Free Schools of the State of West Virginia for the Years 1891 and 1892. Charleston, WV: Moses W. Donnally Public Printer, 1893.

Sullivan, Debra K. “Education.” e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. May 9, 2013. Accessed July 12, 2019. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2163. 

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://marshall.pastperfectonline.com/photo/8659596F-B731-41C2-A8E9-888220982072

https://marshall.pastperfectonline.com/photo/37EF0112-7AF7-4431-89A2-091010276870

Biennial Report of the State Superintendent of Free Schools of the State of West Virginia, 1891-1892

https://marshall.pastperfectonline.com/photo/33ADE412-82FB-40E2-98F6-482807914944

https://marshall.pastperfectonline.com/photo/5A8A821B-D34E-4ED9-A839-383895313540

https://marshall.pastperfectonline.com/photo/9E83F3A7-496D-4F85-9C3F-111426608700

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/special/lost_huntington/lost-huntington-buffington-elementary/article_647103d3-d146-5625-bfd2-ae2e7dd3d993.html

https://www.cabellschools.com/BuffingtonElementary.aspx