On January 1, 1913 the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad bridge crossing the Guyandotte River collapsed, plunging locomotive No. 820 and multiple workers into the freezing waters. Seven people were killed and the railroad was paralyzed for days in one of the worst disasters in the C&O's history. The bridge had been undergoing construction work for expansion and renovation, which resulted in weaker, temporary supports being used to sustain the center of the bridge. Some people also claimed that rising flood waters had caused logs to ram the bridge's supports, further weakening the structure. The train engine itself was also much heavier than what was normally used on the bridge, likely causing further strain. Thousands of people gathered around the river to watch the recovery efforts, and the disaster even inspired the creation of a ballad, "The Guyandotte Bridge Disaster." The bridge was eventually rebuilt, and even the train was repaired and put back into use.
The Zachary Taylor Wellington House was built in 1847 by local carpenter Erastus Wellington. His son Zachary Taylor Wellington inherited the home in the 1870s and heavily remodeled it, giving the house a Folk Victorian appearance. Zachary was notably one of the few Republican politicians to hold office in West Virginia following the restoration of voting rights to ex-Confederates, who quickly took over most elected positions, in 1871. Wellington served variously as county assessor, deputy sheriff, town treasurer, and postmaster. Today the house remains a private residence, and has largely been restored to its 1870s appearance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Guyandotte United Methodist Church dates back to 1804 and is one of the oldest active congregations in the region. The church was originally part of the Guyandotte Circuit and serviced by traveling pastors employed by the Methodist Church who served multiple communities in a single region. Members of the church were influential in the community and responsible for the creation of Marshall Academy, a subscription school that later became a state-funded normal school and ultimately, Marshall University. The original church building stood on the corner of Guyan Street and 5th Avenue in front of the Guyandotte Cemetery. During the Civil War, the church was destroyed in the aftermath of the Battle of Guyandotte in November 1861. The current church building was constructed on Main Street in 1869 and was acknowledged as a historical site in 1991 by the United Methodist Church's West Virginia Annual Conference.
The Madie Carroll House, also known as the Thomas Carroll House, is one of the oldest structures in Cabell County. According to local histories, it was transported via flatboat from Gallipolis, Ohio to its present location in 1810. During the 1850s, the house was acquired by the Carroll family, who opened an inn at their home. The house also briefly served as Cabell County’s first Catholic church, as the family allowed services to be held there before a formal church was built. In 1861, it became one of the few homes to survive the Battle of Guyandotte, after Mary Carroll prevented Union troops from setting fire to the house. Madie Carroll, the house’s namesake, inherited it from her aunt Mayme, and owned the home when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 1984, the Carroll family donated the house, and in 1988 it was restored and opened as a historic house museum. Today the home is operated by the Madie Carroll House Preservation Society, which hosts many events at the house such as the annual Guyandotte Civil War Days.
On November 10, 1861, a Confederate cavalry force of more than 700 attacked a Union recruitment camp for the Ninth (West) Virginia Infantry regiment along the port town of Guyandotte in Cabell County. Led by Col. John Clarkson, the Confederates quickly overcame the brief resistance of the federal recruits, who numbered some 150 men. Allegedly many pro-Confederate residents in town participated in the fighting, even firing on Union troops. Casualties were minimal, but the Confederates captured around 100 Union soldiers before leaving. On November 11, the Fifth (West) Virginia Infantry, arriving too late to intervene in the battle, burned the town in retaliation for its purported role in aiding the Confederates. A large portion of Guyandotte was destroyed, including the Buffington Mill. Today the Battle and Burning of Guyandotte are commemorated with several markers and an annual series of reenactments.
The First Guyandotte Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist congregations in the area. It was officially established in 1858, although some sources claim that a Baptist church existed in the community as early as 1812. A brick sanctuary was built on Richmond Street and included a gallery for slaves to attend services. During the Battle of Guyandotte in November 1861 Union troops burned down the church in retaliation for casualties incurred by Confederate raiders. A new white-sided church was built on the same location in 1867 and remains in operation to this day. In 1909 the federal government awarded the church $2,500 for damages caused by Union forces during the Civil War.
A native of Cabell County, Virginia (now West Virginia), John S. Witcher served as clerk of the circuit court of Cabell County before enrolling in the Third West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry in late 1862. During the Civil War, Witcher served with distinction and consequently received several promotions, mustering out of service with the rank of brevet brigadier general. After the conflict, he served as secretary of state of West Virginia from 1866 to 1869, U.S. Representative for West Virginia’s Third Congressional District between 1869 and 1871, and paymaster of the U.S. Army from 1880 to 1899. After a lengthy career in public service, Witcher retired and moved out west to Salt Lake City, Utah. He died there on July 8, 1906, a week shy of his sixty-seventh birthday. His remains are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Built in 1856, the Buffington Mill was once the largest mill on the Ohio River between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The mill ground wheat into flour and featured a three-story structure that processed and packaged the flour and then sent it down a runway to awaiting vessels on the Ohio River. In the years when Buffington Mill was in operation, Guyandotte was a bustling port with over forty businesses. During the Civil War, the village was also the site of a Union recruiting post that was attacked by Confederate forces on November 10, 1861. The following day, fresh Union troops arrived and burned most of the village - including Buffington Mill - in response to the rumored collaboration between the Confederates and local residents. Although it was never rebuilt, the Buffington Mill’s brick smokestack survived the fire. The smokestack remained standing in Guyandotte, even as the village was incorporated into Huntington in 1911. The aging structure was demolished to make way for an apartment complex sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
The Buffington-McGinnis House, sometimes known as simply the Buffington House, is reportedly the oldest surviving home in Cabell County. The Federal style home was constructed by 1816, but perhaps as early as 1785. For a time it was occupied by Thomas and Ann Buffington, some of the first settlers in the Guyandotte area. Thomas and his descendants were very influential figures in the political and economic history of Guyandotte and, later, Huntington. One descendant, Peter Cline Buffington, became the first mayor of Huntington. After the Civil War, the house came under the ownership of the McGinnis family, and has had numerous different owners since. Today it remains a private residence and is not open to the public.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This tour of historic Guyandotte begins at the Madie Caroll House and includes stops at landmarks such as the Buffington House, First Guyandotte Baptist Church, Guyandotte United Methodist, the Zachary Taylor Wellington House, and the site of the Guyandotte Bridge Disaster in addition to nearby historical markers.
