Hurricane Tabernacle
Photographed 7 November 2014
One of the
historic spots in Crittenden County is the site of Hurricane Church, along with
its cemetery and campground. "The church dates back to 1843 when
Richard Minner gave the land to build the church. In 1850, Robert H. Haynes
sold a tract of land to Andrew Jackson but reserved 4 acres, which he deeded to
the Methodist church in 1875 for a general burying ground."[1]
The first
camp meeting dates from 1899. In that year, the local newspaper reported that
"The Hurricane camp meeting for 1899 closed Sunday night and although
there was some dissatisfaction relative to the keeping of the hotel, it is
claimed that the meeting was successful."[2] The Rev.
J.J. Smith was evangelist for the camp meetings for the next 50 years or more.
The church, shed and some camps
suffered a fire in September 1920.[3]
The fire caught under the shed where
sawdust had been left after the camp meeting. Also destroyed in the fire was a
new piano. The fire was discovered by two lady teachers and a child who arrived
for a school institute scheduled to be held there. The fire was too far along
to save anything but a few benches and the Bible.
The church was rebuilt on the same spot. Camp meetings continue to be held every August.
Published 19 February 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
