Near Nora in Dickenson County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Buffalo School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 16, 2015

1. Old Buffalo School Marker

Inscription. Established in 1875 on land given by Simpson Dyer, the Old Buffalo School became the first free school of Dickenson County in 1880. Alexander Johnson Skeen served as first teacher. The school remained in operation for twenty five years, during which time it educated many future leaders in the area.

Erected 2013 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number XB-10.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 37° 4.8′ N, 82° 20.987′ W. Marker is near Nora, Virginia, in Dickenson County. It is on Dante Mountain Road (Virginia Route 63) near Buffalo Creek Road (County Route 681). It is just north of Nora. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nora VA 24272, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

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the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: McClure, VA. (approx. 2.4 miles away); From Company Town to Community: Reclaiming Trammel (approx. 6 miles away); Trammel's Backbone: Coal, Rail, and the Company Town (approx. 6 miles away); a different marker also named John Mullins (approx. 7.6 miles away); Dickenson County War Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away); Ralph Stanley Museum (approx. 7.6 miles away); Mullins Family (approx. 7.7 miles away); Colley’s Cabin (approx. 8.1 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. John Mullins (was approx. 7½ miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This 2013 marker replaced one with the same number, title and text at this location that was originally

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 16, 2015

2. Old Buffalo School Marker

erected in 1972 by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission.

Also see . . . School & Community History of Dickenson County Virginia. 1994 book edited by Dennis Reedy available on Amazon.com. “Without doubt, Old Buffalo School, near the headwaters of McClure River near Nora, Va., was the most noted school. This old school was built at the mouth of Buffalo Creek and was first a subscription school of about three months term. All the pupils were grown men and women. They paid $1.00 per month. Some time before 1879, this old building was burned. Soon afterwards people became interested in having a free school there. Simpson Dyer, Sr., offered the land and furnished the timber to build the old school house. Elijah Counts stuck the first ax in the first log for the new building. They built a large chimney in one end, a large door in the other end, a window on each side of the room three feet by six feet, and long split log benches. In 1885, E.C. Rasnick or J.C. Rasnick made new desks of sawed planks.” (Submitted on November 18, 2015.) This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.com.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 891 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.