Pioneer Benton County family honored by museum

A Tri-City family is being honored for years of contributions to the East Benton County Historical Society & Museum.

The library at the museum has been named for the Smith family, which helped raise money to build the museum in 1982, and have continued to help it since.

“They helped collect items for the museum. They donated money for lots of projects and lots of programs,” said Corene Hulse, museum administrator.

Henry and Edith Smith along with their children Wayne, Florence and Arlene were the honorees.

“It was wonderful,” said Wayne Smith, the only one of the five still alive. “They did a wonderful job.”

The Smith family kept a homestead in the Horse Heaven Hills, where they farmed dryland wheat for more than 100 years, according to Henry Smith’s 2001 obituary.

Henry Smith was involved in developing the Midtown Plaza Shopping Center in Kennewick, the old Kennewick Social Club, the General Ironworks and the Tri-Cities Savings & Loan Bank.

Edith Smith was the first girl born to a pioneer family in the Kennewick Highlands. According to her 2002 obituary, she was a charter member of several groups, including the Locust Grove Home Circle and SS and LL Investment Club.

Henry and Edith Smith also were heavily involved with the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, where their contributions are recognized on a plaque near the entrance, said Wayne Smith.

“We’re very proud of Kennewick,” he said.

Among the museum exhibits the Smiths helped bring to town was a 2001 Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit on the history of barns, Hulse said.

“We couldn’t have programs as good as we have if not for them,” she said.

The library naming is the first such honor that Hulse, who has been with the historical society 16 years, is aware of. The library includes family records and photographs that can be checked out.

“They’ve been very gracious to the museum, and we felt it was time to honor them,” she said.

This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Pioneer Benton County family honored by museum."