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Centennial History of Hurricane (1994 Edition): The Smith Family

Photo: From left to right are: Carrie Beth, Laura Jo, Brandon Edward. John and Mary Kate. Carrie Beth and Mary Kate are the daughters of Rick and Cindy Smith. Brandon Edward is the son of Jeff and Beckie Smith of Hurricane.

In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. In 1994, the Centennial Committee published a follow up book which included family histories which were not submitted in time for the 1988 Centennial History. This week’s selection is the 41st history from The Centennial History of Hurricane WV Continued — 1994.

THE SMITH FAMILY

Laura Jo and John Smith of Virginia Avenue, Hurricane, and their beautiful grandchildren are dressed and ready to attend church services, which were part of the Centennial pageant entitled HURRICANE, presented Sunday, August 14, 1988.

Photo: From left to right are: Carrie Beth, Laura Jo, Brandon Edward. John and Mary Kate. Carrie Beth and Mary Kate are the daughters of Rick and Cindy Smith. Brandon Edward is the son of Jeff and Beckie Smith of Hurricane.

The photograph was taken at the House on Putnam Avenue, which was built in the early 1900’s by Bill Mac McCallister and occupied by their daughters, Helen and Annie and their sons, Cline and Clate.

Laura Jo’s dress was made by her mother, Mrs. Irsil Neely, and was worn by Mary Moss in the 1960 100th Anniversary of the Hurricane First Baptist Church.

Laura Jo is a direct descendant to two pioneer families, the Sovines and the Gibsons. John played the part of her great-grandfather, Joesph T. Sovine, a charter member Clerk for the organizational meeting of the Hurricane Baptist Church as depicted in the pageant. She is also a great-granddaughter of Calvary Gibson, well-known patriarch of the local Gibsons, who was killed at his home on Hurricane Creek Road by “bushwhackers” during the Civil War.

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