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| Hattie Victoria Smee 1894 - 1979 |
| Hattie Victoria Smee was born May 24th 1894. The first child of George and Lillan Smee of Bayou La Batre, Mobile Co. AL. She grew up in the highth of Bayou La Batre's popularty. Hotels lined the coast and travelers piled in via the rail road which ran in front of her Grandparents home, Angus and Mary Crenshaw. Besides Hattie the Smee's had 6 more children after her. One died as a baby and two others Gladys and Leroy died before there 24 birthday. The siblings that did live to an old age were Mary, George, and the youngist Walter. |
| The Smee/Crenshaw Collection 1906 - 1925 |
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| Sometime around 1906 Hattie's uncle Tarleton Crenshaw went to work for Kodac in Birmingham AL. On his vactions he visited his family in Bayou La Batre taking a camra with him. The photos he took recorded the 1906 hurricane and other interesting events. Tarleton Crenshaw's photos date between 1906 - ca. 1918. In 1919 Hattie was living in Mobile and photographed the distrution of downtown Mobile from the fire of 1919. Hattie married in 1927 to a Spanish American war vet Joe Smith. It is unknown to me when Hattie found she loved perserving history. In her old age she was a member of many historical groups. She was the keeper of almost all the family heirloom including many of her uncle's photographs. It was once said there were nearly 300+ photos. Hattie gave speeches, wrote newpaper articles, and even a book on the history of Bayou La Batre. Hattie Smee Smith died 23rd of Oct 1979. She was 86 years old. The Smee/Crenshaw Collection of photographs and other heirlooms still remains in the family. |
| Drawing done by Hattie Victoria Smee's Great Niece of Hattie Smee in 1906 |
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