In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. Since the Centennial History is now out of print, the Breeze is reprinting articles from the book as space allows. This week’s selection will be the 195th installment of the Centennial History.

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CHARLES DONIVAN RAINES
Submitted by Edna L. Raines

Charles D. Raines was born July 23, 1904, in Huntington. His father, James Edward Raines was born March 11, 1869. His mother, Emma Jane Lambert Raines, was born on May 17, 1876. Charles was raised in Huntington. The family moved to Los Angeles, California for a few years. Charles and his brother, Lavoid, went to the University of Southern California. When they moved back to Huntington, Charles finished his pharmacy degree at the University of Kentucky. He received a gold medal for highest general average and one for the best thesis in his senior year.

He came to Hurricane in 1927, bought the drug store from Dr. Flentje and operated it for 42 years. It was the only drug store in Putnam County at the time of his death, January 10, 1970.

He drilled gas wells in Ripley, Cabell and Putnam County. He married Edna Kirtley Raines on September 1, 1929 and they had two sons, Charles (Duke) Raines, a civil engineer, graduated from Marshall University with masters from Georgia Tech, and Frederick Don Raines, landscape architect.

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A digital copy of the Centennial History can be obtained from the Hurricane City Hall for a small donation. For more information, call the City of Hurricane at (304) 562-5896.