1861 Backus Building:
Bennett and Gifford Butcher Shop in the Basement
photo credit: Les Jordan Collection
See Street Map at this Location
See painted panorama
of Smethport 1858
In the basement of the Backus Building was a butcher shop owned by Bennett and Gifford. It was this butcher shop where the McKean County Bucktails in 1861, received their name. According to newspaper accounts from the era, Colonel Thomas L. Kane saw a freshly killed buck hanging outside the butcher shop. He crossed the street, cut the tail off the buck, and stuck it on his hat. It was from this that the historic Bucktails received their name.
