Quote:
Originally Posted by WVBurn
Recently I read a book written by Huston Curtiss called "Sins of the 7th Sister"..it's a novel based on a true story. It's setting is early Elkins WV--(1920's/30's) ..it's endlessly entertaining but, very hard to believe some of the tales Mr. Curtiss relates. I'm wondering if anyone (this means you GottaHerdOn)...has read the book or actually knows if the story told is in any way factual? I enjoyed it and all of the historical information about Elkins and the area. Just curious....and thanks, in advance, for any comments you may have.
By the way,it's a good read, just some rather alarming "goings on".
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Included a copy in an Amazon order. After reading it and spending about 20 minutes searching, I can prove it is full of BS. Author doesn't seem to have much respect for the people of Elkins, only his fictional family and seems to have forgotten a lot.
For example, his family was not responsible for putting the "college" in Elkins in 1930 - D and E was established in 1904.
The Senator on the horse was Henry G. Davis who died in 1916 aged 92. The statue was erected in 1927 not 1929/30.
Says it is 90 miles to DC and 160 miles to Wheeling, WV. (Must have used the Map Quest route via not yet built Interstates thru Washington PA rather than the 129 miles going Rt.250.)
Also found:
Randy Harper - Being from Elkins WV, I find this book to be full of baloney. He has names of most landmarks correct and some events. But for the most part it is all ficticious. I had my doubts for awhile, until he got to the part about his mother being contacted for land for the airport. Knowing how the county acquired this land (being from the family it came from) I then knew beyond a doubt he was making it up.
Reviews indicate that some will believe anything:
Dawn Stanton details the years 1929 and 1930 and the absolute craziness in the family...everything and anything happened...murder, adultery, even incest..
Lee Ann "Hughie's" mother, in particular, takes in all the strays, fights the Klan, educates the black children, raises champion horses, sleeps with the sheriff, and more.
Others don't remember much history:
Christina C long but good...takes place in the 1930s during slavery and the depression...
User:JRSlack - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia entry
Huston C. (Carl) Curtiss born 9 March 1922 in Elkins, West Virginia, died 1 August 2007 in Los Angeles. Professional writer under the pseudonym, "Ben Canfield" which was adopted to pay homage to Canfield, WV, which is just under two miles East of Elkins.
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