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October 15-16, 2021
2021 Southern Foodways Symposium
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the SFA
October 15-16, 2021
2021 Southern Foodways Symposium

Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to annemarie@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Helvetia, West Virginia

ORAL HISTORY

Cecelia Smith

Hutte Restaurant

Cecelia Coleman Smith was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia in 1949. Originally from Pickens, West Virginia, her family moved away from the Helvetia/Pickens community when she was seven so her father could take a coal mining job. She moved back to Pickens in 2005. Mrs. Smith served in the military and is a member of the local American Legion chapter. She is also part of the Pickens Improvement and Historical Society, the Farm Women’s Club, and occasionally volunteers at the Hutte Restaurant.

Date of interview:
2016-04-30

Interviewer:
Emily Hilliard

Photographer:
Emily Hilliard

Download Transcript

“

"[The Ramp Supper] is a part of our heritage and we've lost too much of our heritage. We need to hold on to it as much as we can." - Cecelia Smith

Other Project Interviews

Interview

Vernon Burky

Vernon Burky plays in the Helvetia Star Band, performing regularly for Helvetia square dances and events.

Interview

Sharon Rollins

Sharon Rollins manages Helvetia's Ramp Supper, serves as the treasurer for the Helvetia Community Fair, and volunteers…

Interview

Morgan Rice

Morgan Rice is a member of the Helvetia Farm Women’s Club and works part-time as a waitress at the Hutte restaurant. In…

Interview

Henry Rice

Henry Rice is the grandson of Eleanor Mailloux, the co-founder of the Hutte. He cooks for the Hutte Sunday buffet and…

Interview

Eleanor Betler

Eleanor Betler invites neighbors and friends to make hosablatz and rosettes during Fasnacht time. She collects stories,…

Interview

Diane Betler

Diane Betler makes the yeast-raised doughnuts for Helvetia’s Fasnacht celebration every year using Margaret Koerner’s…

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