All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Buckhannon City Hall to remain Buckhannon City Hall

BUCKHANNON – What’s in a name?

Or perhaps a clearer question is, what’s the significance of a name?

By majority vote, Buckhannon City Council members resolved that the name of the building located at 70 E. Main St. – Buckhannon City Hall – is meaningful because it signifies who the building was constructed for: the residents of Buckhannon and Upshur County.

At Thursday’s city council meeting, council members considered a Consolidated Public Works Board recommendation to name Buckhannon City Hall after longtime mayor, the late J.D. Hinkle Jr., and to establish a “Municipal Wall of Fame” at city hall or nearby.

Mayor David McCauley said Hinkle served as mayor for six two-year terms for a total of 12 years.

Councilman CJ Rylands made a motion to bring the recommendation to the table, which McCauley seconded.

Councilman David Thomas said he didn’t believe naming the central city building after one person was “appropriate.”

“David, I don’t know J.D. Hinkle at all … I know he was mayor for a couple of terms, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to memorialize a person’s name on city hall,” Thomas said. “It would be similar to naming the Capitol building after someone.

“I think it should just be Buckhannon City Hall and that it not be recognized with someone’s name, even thought that person has served either as a mayor or a council member. That’s just my position. It has nothing to do with the person, it’s the process that I don’t think is appropriate.”

However, Rylands said he’d support the CPWB’s recommendation.

“I think this was brought up at Consolidated Public Works, and there was no opposition to it,” Rylands said. “I have no problem with recognizing people’s contributions in the city or any other entity, so I support this.”

McCauley highlighted several of Hinkle’s achievements during his tenure, including a notable expansion of city waste collection and sanitary sewer services and a significant uptick in the number of streets that were paved at his direction.

“I would tell you, that if we were to carve in a filler mountain around Buckhannon some place – the Mount Rushmore of Buckhannon – I would have my thoughts on who the four figures would be. It would be Binky Poundstone, Bob Wallace, Harley Brown and the central figure that they all swore by was J.D. Hinkle.

“Until the early ‘60s, there were not only unpaved alleys all over the place, but there were some unpaved streets in Buckhannon, and we didn’t have hardly any streetlights, and all of those things – those essential things – came to pass [under J.D. Hinkle’s tenure],” McCauley said. “There’s nobody that did more for our city than J.D. Hinkle Jr. That’s just my thoughts on it; I’m one of seven votes.”

Councilman Robbie Skinner said that while he wouldn’t be opposed to establishing a Municipal Wall of Fame, he wasn’t comfortable with singling Hinkle out.

“We have had a lot of people that have contributed to this community, that have moved it along, and we’re not finished with that,” Skinner said. “I think it also could potentially open up a slippery slope: Do we name the Public Safety Complex? Do we rename Jawbone Park after someone?”

Skinner suggested council erect a wall with iconic characters of the Buckhannon-Upshur community, “but leave Buckhannon City Hall as Buckhannon City Hall.”

“The business owners and the residents, this is their building, and they pay for it monthly,” he said. “We all do … I just believe that naming the single most integral building of this organization and of this city after one person when so many have given, and so many will give in the future, I would rather it stay Buckhannon City Hall and no more.”

Councilwoman Mary Albaugh agreed with Skinner, as did city recorder Colin Reger.

“Usually I try to go along with what a board does … but I like Buckhannon City Hall. I think maybe not right now,” Albaugh said.

The motion to name city hall after Hinkle failed 4-2, with Thomas, Skinner, Reger and Albaugh voting against it, while McCauley and Rylands voted in favor of it.

Councilwoman Pamela Bucklew (formerly Cuppari) was absent from Thursday’s meeting.

At McCauley’s suggestion, Reger made a motion to form a committee that will be tasked with brainstorming criteria to be considered when adding a person’s name to the Municipal Wall of Fame.

Thomas seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

In other city news, council also:

  • Approved a request from the City of Elkins’ Fire Department to borrow the Buckhannon Fire Department’s Reserve E911 engine for 30 days.
  • Approved a request from the W.Va. Service Dog Support Group to use the Buckhannon Dog Park one night a week for dog training classes throughout the month of April in exchange for a $100 contribution to the dog park.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Really Really Free Market and Community Potluck scheduled for Sunday, July 13

A community Really Really Free Market and potluck will be held Sunday, July 13, from 1–3 pm at Walnut and Chestnut streets, featuring free goods, services, food and opportunities to connect and volunteer.

Man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly attempting to run someone over in Walmart parking lot

Rayne Prince Marion Chuma was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to hit a man with his vehicle in the Buckhannon Walmart parking lot before leaving the scene.

Suspect held without bail in Brushy Fork Road robbery case

Bruno Martins Ferreira has been arrested and is being held without bail on felony robbery and conspiracy charges after allegedly participating in an armed robbery at a Brushy Fork Road residence, during which $12,000 was transferred from the victim’s bank account.

Upshur County Board of Education Agenda: July 8, 2025

The Upshur County Board of Education has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting scheduled for July 8, 2025.

City of Buckhannon calendar: July 7-11, 2025

Buckhannon has announced a series of July public meetings, bulky item and yard waste collections, family-friendly events such as Festival Fridays, deadline reminders for firefighter applications, and performances of “Mamma Mia!” at the Colonial Arts Center.

Sherry Esenwein

Sherry Esenwein, a devoted educator, animal lover, and Buckhannon native, passed away peacefully at 71 in Annapolis, remembered for her adventurous spirit, cherished family, and lifelong dedication to teaching and her beloved dogs.

Summer Basketball League kicks off

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League began its season last week, featuring multiple games with standout performances from players such as Josh Trent, Andrew Holcomb, and Sterlin Thropp, while several matches ended in forfeits.

Post 7 falls in twin bill to Charleston

Buckhannon Post 7 suffered two losses to Charleston Post 56 on Sunday, dropping the first game 14-0 by mercy rule and falling 5-2 in the second despite a late rally.

Upshur County Commission partners with development authority, eyes $550k in grants for proposed rec hub

The Upshur County Commission partnered with the Development Authority and authorized applications for $550,000 in grants, as well as a joint property transfer, to support construction of the proposed John C. Allen Regional Hub recreation complex.