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Historic Buford
Buford never had the “sleepy little village” aura, which characterized most small towns of the 19th century and early 20th century. The town was early blessed with able, far-sighted citizens, interested in business and education as was evidenced by its rapid growth and early attention to schools. Buford was early called the “city of many factories.” A news article in the News-Herald of December 18, 1902 referred to Buford as the “New York of Gwinnett” in paying tribute to its industry and activity.
For more than 60 years Buford was the largest city in Gwinnett County and during most of that time it had the only significant industrial development in the county. During this period it exerted a powerful, many times dominant influence upon county politics. As early as 1900 Buford was the largest city in the county, and Sugar Hill Militia District listed more ad valorem taxpayers than any other district in the county.
Buford had the first bank in the county. In fact, Buford had two flourishing banks before any other permanent banking facilities were established in the county.
For most of its history Buford’s schools were widely recognized for quality education. During several decades students came from other areas of the county and from adjoining counties to acquire the prestigious diploma from Buford High School.
Recent and current references to Buford’s past industry consistently label it “the tannery,” a serious under-conception. While leather tanning was an important part of the city’s industrial complex and provided the leather for the other operations, it was only a part of the extensive manufactures which made Buford nationally, even internationally known as “The Leather City.” At its zenith Bona Allen Inc. produced nationally known shoes, saddles of national and Hollywood reputation, harness, horse collars, and other leather products. Separate buildings housed the different operations. Besides the tannery buildings, there were the shoe factory on West Main Street, the harness factory (and saddle shop) on East Main Street, and the collar factory on Elliott Street back of the shoe factory. The company also operated the only glue factory in the south. It conducted a large farming operation, which provided straw for horse collars as well as other farm products.
After a leveling off period following loss of major industries, the city is now showing a resurgence of industry and population of which future historians may write.
