Pictures
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THE BANK OF CAIRO, Cairo, WV, 26337The structure was built in 1896 with the railroad to one side and the North Fork of the Hughes River to its back. In 1941, it became the Farmers and Merchants Bank and by 1974 the building was vacated. Inside the building are still the original bank fixtures with marble ledges, iron teller windows, ornate lighting and a monstrous turn -of- the- century safe. The building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1996. And now houses the Ritchie County Tourism and Visitors Center and the North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation.
NORTH BEND STATE PARKNorth Bend Park covers over 1400 acres and lies between Cairo and Harrisville. It has hard wood forests, rich river bottoms and steep rocky ridges. It was named for the horseshoe curve of the North Fork of the Hughes River. The park offers fishing streams, hiking trails and wildlife in abundance; and has excellent overnight accommodations, including beautiful log cabins for rent. The park also features a 72 mile North Bend Rail Trail, which is designed for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. And there is a new 305 acre recreational lake.
Early picture of the Ritchie County FairIf Ritchie County ever had a " trademark" it was surely the Ritchie County Fair. The Ritchie County Agricultural Fair Assoc. was incorporated in January of 1897. This was the first Agricultural Fair organized in the state of West Virginia. With the exception of the war years ( 1943-44) the fair was held every year during the last days of August into early September, from 1887 until 1962. The buildings are all torn down; however the race track is still there but is used for race cars, not for race horses. A Ritchie County Fair Committee was organized a few years ago, and for the years of 2003 and 2004, our Ritchie County Fair has been held at the Ritchie County 4-H Camp Grounds.
