West Virginia history

West Virginia

1931: Hungton, WV

Assembly work in Huntington, at the western tip of West Virginia, began as a tent meeting conducted by William Graham Smith in 1931. He also had a children’s meeting in his garage around this time. He invited Harold Mackay to come and assist in the Word. Willie Bousfield and Willie Foster came to help with special meetings. In 1935, a store building was rented, and Lester Wilson was asked to come and have Gospel meetings. He stayed for six weeks. He was followed later by Robert Holliday. Lester Wilson returned for Gospel meetings in 1937.

W.G. Smith, his wife Ruth, and their two children continued faithfully in their labor of love until 1945, when they moved to Burlington, North Carolina; they saw many saved. One convert, Edwin Porter, developed real ability in preaching. Others who ministered were ‘Mac’ McDaniel and Harry White. These brethren began the chapel building in about 1938. The Huntington Gospel Chapel was dedicated in 1940. Arnold Clary was saved in the 1940s and continues in the ministry.

Harry Pilkington conducted several Gospel campaigns at Huntington in the 1960's. Eddie Huston from Riverview Chapel in Hinton came into fellowship in 1960 and provided valued Bible teaching. Through the witness of Eddie Huston, Darrell Adkins was saved and also has greatly assisted in the meetings. Herman Luhm of Morgantown has regularly provided helpful teaching over the years. Charles Fizer of Emmaus University assisted in the work in the Huntington assembly in the 1970s.

1940’s: Allen Junction, WV

In the 1940s, brethren including Herman Luhm, who was commended to the Lord’s work by Marlborough Gospel Hall in San Diego, CA in 1942, began a work in the coal mining area of Mullens and Allen Junction. Souls were saved and an assembly formed. Welton Bible Chapel at Allen Junction was built to house this assembly. Harry and Joan Pilkington came from Ontario to assist in the new work. When the Pilkingtons moved to Hinton in 1962, the work at Welton was left in the hands of David Pollock, who had moved there the year before to help.

1956: Otsego, WV

In 1956, another work began in the coal mining area at nearby Otsego and continues today as Otsego Bible Chapel. Mike Cook, Doug Hedrick, and Gary Rhodes are leaders in that assembly.

Late 1940’s: Hinton, WV

Riverview Chapel in Hinton in the southern part of the state, began in the late 1940s at 1401 Temple Street. It was called West End Chapel at that time but changed to Riverview Chapel when it moved to 16th and Temple. Frank Monroe and Herman Luhm were those who started the assembly.

Herman Luhm, Bill Chewning, Larry Deeds, Robbie Merritt, and Harry Pilkington have been leaders over the years. Riverview Chapel has commended Bob Deeds to the Emmaus Correspondence Ministry, Larry Deeds to the assembly at Conway, SC, and Harry Pilkington to the local work. About 70 to 80 adults and youngsters attend Riverview Chapel.

1949: Morgantown, WV

The city of Morgantown sits on the east bank of the Monogahela River, just south of the Pennsylvania state border. In 1949, Guy Meehling started a Sunday School in Morgantown, and out of it an assembly developed, meeting in a school house. In 1957, Herman Luhm moved from Hinton to Morgantown to help the small group of Christians who were meeting to Remember the Lord. Radio outreach was added to camp and Sunday School ministries.

By 1960 the group had outgrown its rented quarters. Family Bible Hour attendance was averaging 100 people and reached a record of 153 on Easter Sunday of that year. But the hall only seated 80, so the Bible Hour was being held in two sessions. The assembly itself consisted of only ten families, 33 people, including children.

A lot was purchased across the river in Westover and funds were borrowed from Stewards Foundation for building costs. Brethren from Durham, NC drew up building plans and sent a team of volunteers to help with steel work, carpentry, and plumbing. Crescent Hills Chapel was opened in late 1960.

Growth continued, and a Sunday School wing and assembly room were added to the building. Bible Hour attendance averaged 185 in 1972.

1969: Terra Alta, WV

The Morgantown assembly also reached out to other communities. During the period when the assembly still met in the school house, a young George Kirk, Jr. was won to Christ. Later he moved to Terra Alta, 25 miles to the southeast, and helped establish an assembly there. Hillcrest Chapel in Terra Alta was built and occupied in 1969.

Sources

• Questionnaire Responses
• Letters of Interest, July-August, 1972, p.22