From mined land to community space

Hanna Coal Co. created the park from reclaimed strip-mined land and held a naming contest. Suggested names included Hill and Dale, Green Acres, Fair Lakes, Playcation Land and Buffalo Park. The winning entry, “Sallie Buffalo Park,” was submitted by Ruth S. Reppart, a Common Pleas Court stenographer, who received a $75 bond from Art Wallace, who oversaw Hanna’s land use program.

The land originally was owned by Revolutionary War patriot John McFadden. After his death, part of the 640 acres passed to his oldest son, Samuel Buffalo McFadden, and his wife, Sarah “Sallie” McFadden, who operated a grist mill there. Reppart knew the history because she lived on an adjoining farm for more than 50 years. Wallace Lodge was later built in honor of Wallace and his contributions to the park. Thompson School can be seen in the background, but Wallace Lodge had not yet been built.

There were two women named Sarah McFadden, and both used the nickname Sallie. To distinguish between them, one was called “Sallie Buffalo.” Information is from a July 1, 1965, Freeport Press article and Harrison County Historical Society files.