Donald Keith Smith Growing Up

Rainelle was founded in 1906 by two brothers, John and Thomas Raine. Together they formed the Meadow River Lumber Company, which at its peak, was the world’s largest hardwood saw mill in the world. With approximately 150 employees needed for full production, construction soon began on houses and living quarters to entice young men and families to move to the area. By 1912, four rows of houses extended from the main street (US Route 60) for individual families and a large boarding house was built. Thus, a company town was born.

Rainelle Boarding House

In the 1910 US Census, it is listed that our grandfather Ernest Franklin Smith, was still in Kentucky working as a Farm Laborer on the “home farm” while his older brother Freelan, was a Laborer at a “Lumber Mill”.

1910 US Census for Virginia

He then married Cornelia Greton Dixon on Sept. 16th, 1916, in Augusta County, VA. By 1920, he is listed in that years’ US Census as residents of Boone County West Virginia and Ernest now worked at the local Saw Mill as a “laborer.”

1920 US Census for West Virginia

Smith Family in West Virginia in ~1930, just prior to the birth of Donald Keith Smith.

By the time the 1930 US Census (the year our dad was born) came out, it was recorded that the Smith family had relocated to Rainelle and Ernest had moved to the Meadow River Lumber Company. According to my dad, they were living in a company-owned house.

He would have gone to the original schoolhouse built by the Meadow River Lumber Company, pictured below.

A white frame structure, built in 1913. It was used for all grades until the High School was built.

Dad at age 2 in 1932.

Dad at age 1 with his mom, Cornelia, who is on the left.

A little wrestling match at age 14.

Dad would tell me stories about growing up hunting, wrestling with friends, doing chores, and generally getting into all sorts of trouble. He once told me about the time he was home alone and found a jar of beets. Being the precocious young man that he was, he decided he’d open them up and then proceeded to eat every last one. There really was no need for punishment, as he became incredibly sick and never touched a beet again.

Dad at age 9 is 2nd from the left in the front Row. Cornelia, his mom, is back left.

My dad recalls the old-fashioned form of punishment (which he had the pleasure of experiencing), referred to as “go get me a switch.” Not only was young Don told to go out into the woods and fetch a switch/stick, but what he brought back was then used on him for a good “butt whooping.” Always clever and devious, dad would bring back the smallest stick he could find, only to be told to head on back into the woods and find a stick “as round as his thumb.”

By the time dad was ready to go to high school, they had already built a nice brick school for the ever-growing town. It was Rainelle High, The Rangers.

Rainelle High, home of the “Rangers”

This time period was also marked by the hardships and worries of WWII. Both of Don’s older brothers went off to serve in WWII. Sam Aubrey Smith joined the Navy on Dec. 12, 1941. Five days after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and America declared war. Aubrey served until Dec. 22, 1946 and served on the USS Alchiba (an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship), USS YMS-238 (a Minesweeper), USS LST-648 (a Class Tank Landing Ship), and the USS Princeton (an Essex-class Aircraft Carrier).

His brother Eugene Filmere Smith, being three years younger than Aubrey, joined the service later. While at a base driving a jeep, he was “sideswiped” while his left arm was on the door with the window rolled down. His arm was severely damaged, but doctors were able to save it, though his mobility at the elbow was forever limited.

Dad on the right in high school Football

Single Wing football formation used in the 1940’s

I love picturing my dad in his “facemask-less” helmet, staring straight ahead in the back of the formation, just waiting for that snap. And everyone knew, Bucky never missed the snap.

With only one class left between him and his high school diploma (not to mention he had West Virginia University scouting him for football), my dad decided it was more important to serve his country and joined the Air Force instead. Or perhaps the reason for his premature departure was because his teacher disregarded his straight A record and failed him because of his attendance, or lack thereof. Rather than having to retake the class, Don “Bucky” Smith gave them the bird, got out of dodge and never looked back.