Rainelle in Greenbrier County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Meadow River Lumber Company / United Methodist Church
Photographed By Forest McDermott, July 20, 2008
1. Meadow River Lumber Company Marker
Inscription.
Meadow River Lumber Company, also, United Methodist Church. .
Meadow River Lumber Company. Established as Raine-Andrew Lumber Co. concern with purchase of 32,000 ac. (1906-08) by John and Tom Raine, namesake of Rainelle, founded 1908. Used logging railroad from woods to mill and Sewell Valley RR (NF&G) to C&O. 1909 mill burned 1924; 1925 triple-band mill had 30 million bf. annual capacity, 500 workers, and made finished lumber, furniture, flooring and shoe heels. Shut down 28 Dec. 1970.
United Methodist Church. Built 1914 and said to be largest building in world made entirely of chestnut. Because of Raine family's desire for only one church within town, denomination was determined by majority of Meadow River Lumber Co. workers. Served school, service and civic groups as meeting house, and once housed the public library. Educational wing with interior of wormy chestnut was added in 1930.
Meadow River Lumber Company
Established as Raine-Andrew Lumber Co. concern with purchase of 32,000 ac. (1906-08) by John & Tom Raine, namesake of Rainelle, founded 1908. Used logging railroad from woods to mill & Sewell Valley RR (NF&G) to C&O. 1909 mill burned 1924; 1925 triple-band mill had 30 million bf. annual capacity, 500 workers, & made finished lumber, furniture, flooring & shoe heels. Shut down 28 Dec. 1970.
United Methodist Church
Built 1914 and said to be largest building in world made entirely of chestnut. Because of Raine family's desire for only one church within town, denomination was determined by majority of Meadow River Lumber Co. workers. Served school, service and civic groups as meeting house, and once housed the public library. Educational wing with interior of wormy chestnut was added in 1930.
Erected 1984 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.
W. Marker is in Rainelle, West Virginia, in Greenbrier County. Marker is on Kanawha Avenue (U.S. 60) 0.1 miles east of S. Sewell Street (West Virginia Route 20), on the left when traveling east. In the front of the United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rainelle WV 25962, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The opposite side of the Meadow River Lumber Company marker.
Photographed By Forest McDermott, July 20, 2008
3. Meadow River Lumber Company/United Methodist Church Marker
Photo taken looking east on U.S. Route 60. The United Methodist Church is to the left of the marker.
Photographed By Forest McDermott, July 20, 2008
4. United Methodist Church in Rainelle, WV
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2011, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,070 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 11, 2011, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
