Virginia Room Digital Collection

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The Virginia Room Digital Collection includes photographs, oral histories, books, pamphlets and finding aids to items in the Virginia Room. Continue to check back for new additions.

Browse Items (197 total)

PC 128.3 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Roanoke, Virginia - Nestling in a beautiful amphitheatre formed by the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Alleghany Mountains on the west and at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley lies Roanoke - Magic City of the South, key to…

PC 128.31 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Jefferson Street, looking north, Roanoke, Virginia - Nestling in a beautiful amphitheatre formed by the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Alleghany Mountains on the west and at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley lies Roanoke - The…

PC 128.34 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Jefferson Street looking south at night, Roanoke Virginia."

PC 128.35 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Intersection on Jefferson Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia."

VRD 2.1.jpg
Looking north on Market Street.

VRD 2.2.jpg
Looking north on Market Street toward Market Square.

VRD 2.3.jpg
A view of the Market Building.

VRD 2.5.jpg
A view of Market Square.

VRD 2.6.jpg
Wholesaling operations on Kirk Avenue as seen from Market Street.

VRD 2.8.jpg
View of buildings along Campbell Avenue across from the Market Building, including the Roanoke Weiner Stand, Gulf Mills Department Store, and Bob's Shoe Store.

VRD 2.10.jpg
An unidentifed woman shops for flowers at the City Market.

VRD 2.11.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

VRD 2.14.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

VRD 2.15.jpg
A view of vendor stalls along Market Square.

VRD 2.16.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls along Market Square.

VRD 2.17.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

VRD 2.19.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

VRD 2.21.jpg
Looking north on Market Street toward the Market Building.

VRD 2.22.jpg
Looking east on Salem Avenue near Wall Street intersection.

VRD 2.23.jpg
Vendor stalls along Market Street on the City Market.

VRD 2.24.jpg
Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

LDW2 Loebl Dye Works.jpg
Left to Right: Josef Loebl, Robert Loebl, Julia Loebl, _____, and Roy Hargraves in front of Loebl Dye Works, formerly on Salem Avenue.

FE001 First Auto.jpg
Roanoke's first automobile parked in front of a bicycle shop at 109-111 Church Avenue SW. The first auto was believed to have been owned by T.T. Fishburn. In two years, in 1906, this building would become Roanoke Automobile Company selling Rambler…

FE002 GW Sisler.jpg
G.W. Sisler Funeral Home, formerly located at 23 First (Salem) Avenue.

FE003 Grand Piano.jpg
Grand Piano Furniture was located at 312 2nd Street SW.

FE006 JE Bernards.jpg
J.E. Bernard's Machine Shop, formerly located at 109-111 Church Avenue SW. Roanoke Automobile Company is located next door, specializing in the sale of Ramblers.

FE007 Armistice Day Parade.jpg
A contingent of veterans march in the Armistice Day Parade on Campbell Avenue.

FE009 Union Lunch.jpg
Union Lunch, formerly located in the area where the Market Building is today.

FE010 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking east on Campbell Avenue toward the Market Building from the roof of the Colonial American National Bank building.

FE011 McGuire Building.jpg
The McGuire Building, located at 1 Market Square, was built in 1914 and housed W. E. McGuire’s Farmers’ Supply Co. that sold buggies, wagons, fertilizer, seed, and other farm-related equipment and supplies.

FE013 McGuire Building.jpg
The McGuire Building, located at 1 Market Square, was built in 1914 and housed W. E. McGuire’s Farmers’ Supply Co. that sold buggies, wagons, fertilizer, seed, and other farm-related equipment and supplies. Tenants in this photo include A&P…

FE014 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking west on Campbell Avenue. The Rialto Theatre is visible at left.

FE015 Municipal Building.jpg
The Municipal Building from 2nd Street.

FE017 Mountain Trust.jpg
Mountain Trust Bank was located in the Strickland Building at 302 S. Jefferson Street.

FE022 Church and Jefferson.jpg
Intersection showing the Williamson Building on the northwest corner of Church Avenue and Jefferson Street. At the time of this photo, the building housed T.L. Deyerle Company. It would later be home to the Sportsman. The building was razed in…

FE023 Big Lick Hotel.jpg
Formerly located on the southwest corner of Williamson Road and Salem Avenue, the Big Lick Hotel would go through several iterations, including a portion of the Shenandoah Hotel, the Lee Hotel and Hotel Earle. The building was gutted by fire in 1991…

FE024 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street. American Theatre on right.

FE027 Title Guarantee.jpg
Title Guarantee Trust and Savings Bank, formerly located at 34 Church Avenue SW.

FE028 Fire Ladder.jpg
Firemen pose on a ladder pulled by horses. The building in the background was on the corner of 1st Street and Church Avenue.

FE032 Post Office.jpg
Roanoke's second federally funded post office was constructed on the same site as the first, the corner of Church Avenue and 1st Street. It was built in 1914 and replaced in 1933.

FE033 Big Lick Livery.jpg
In 1898, the Big Lick Livery Stable stood on Henry Street (1st Street SW) just north of Roanoke's first federally funded post office (located on the NE corner of Henry (1st) Street and Church Avenue) which can be seen in the background. In 1890 this…

FE034 Horton Livery.jpg
Horton and Roberts Livery Stable stood on Henry Street (now 1st Street SW) just north of the northeast corner of Henry Street and Church Avenue.

FE037 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street.

FE047 Market Building.jpg
Roanoke's first Market Building. Built in 1886, it was replaced by the current Market Building in 1922.

FE048 FNEB.jpg
The First National Exchange Bank building is located at 201 S. Jefferson Street.

FE049 1st Street.jpg
Looking north on 1st Street from Church Avenue.

FE050 Patrick Henry Hotel.jpg
Patrick Henry Hotel

FE054 Dog Mouth Fountain.jpg
Th Dog Mouth Fountain stands on the northwest corner of Salem Avenue and Market Street. Legend has it that those who drink from the fountain will always return to Roanoke.

FE055 Lewis-Gale.jpg
Lewis-Gale Hospital was built in 1909 as a partnership between Dr. Sparrell Gale and Dr. J.N. Lewis. The original hospital stood at the northwest corner of 3rd Street and Luck Avenue.

FE056 Downtown Roanoke.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street from the Colonial National Bank building.

FE057 1st Street.jpg
Looking north on 1st Street from Church Avenue.

FE058 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Crowds gather along Campbell Avenue to watch the Armistice Day Parade.

FE068 Greene Memorial.jpg
Greene Memorial United Methodist Church at the corner of Church Avenue and 2nd Street. In this photograph, a crowd is gathered to watch as the new La France Fire Engine was hauled to the corner to see if it could throw water as high as the steeple…

FE069 Ponce de Leon Hotel.jpg
The original Ponce de Leon Hotel located at 131 Campbell Avenue SW. The elegant verandas are gone by the time this photograph was taken. In December 1930, the building was totally destroyed by fire, killing one resident and injuring others. It was…

FE071 Ponce de Leon Hotel.jpg
The second Ponce de Leon Hotel located at 131 Campbell Avenue SW.

FE117 Salvation Army Hotel.jpg
Salvation Army Hotel, formerly located at 201 2nd Street SW.

FE123 Ponce de Leon.jpg
The second Ponce de Leon Hotel located at 131 Campbell Avenue SW.

FE124 Commerce Street School.jpg
Commerce Street School, also called First Ward School, was located at the corner of Church Avenue and 2nd (Commerce) Street. Built in 1890, it was razed in 1929 to make room for the post office.

FE142 Roanoke Printing Company.jpg
Roanoke Printing Company occupies the Bolling Building, formerly located on the southwest corner of Church Avenue and 1st Street SW.

FE147 State & City Bank.jpg
Built in 1905, the building located at 116 Campbell Avenue SW was home to two banks in its early years, State & City Bank in this photograph and Day & Night Bank.

FE175 Roanoke High School.jpg
Roanoke High School was built in 1898 on the northeast corner of Church Avenue and 3rd Street SW. It became the school administration building in 1924 after Jefferson High School opened. It was razed in 1968 for construction of the Municipal…

FE178 Elmwood Park.jpg
A scene in Elmwood Park.

FE182 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street from the Colonial Bank building.

FE185 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking east from the 100 block of Campbell Avenue.

FE189 Fenton China.jpg
Fenton China and House Furniture, formerly located at 306 S. Jefferson Street.

FE195 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Lyle's Drugstore occupied the right half of this building, located at 101 Campbell Avenue SW.

FE198 Mountain Trust Bank.jpg
The temporary quarters of Mountain Trust Bank, formerly located at 34 W. Church Avenue.

FE200 WDBJ Radio.jpg
Virginia's second commercial radio station, WDBJ-AM, had been broadcasting for twelve and a half years when it moved to its new quarters at 124 Kirk Avenue SW in January 1937.

FE201 State & City Building.jpg
State & City Building, located at 102 Campbell Avenue SW.

FE211 Witten-Martin Furniture.jpg
Located at 213 1st Street SW, the Masonic temple was constructed in 1911. For many years, the first floor was occupied by various retail establishments, as evidenced in this photograph when Witten-Martin Furniture Company occupied the space.

FE214 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking west on Campbell Avenue.

FE257 Lee Junior High.jpg
Lee Junior High School was built in 1912 at the intersection of Franklin Road and 2nd Street SW. It was razed in 1973 to clear the site for construction of the Richard H. Poff Federal Building.

FE258 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street from Salem Avenue.

FE260 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street from the 300 block.

FE263 Day and Night Bank.jpg
Built in 1905, the building located at 116 Campbell Avenue SW was home to two banks in its early years, Day & Night Bank in this photograph and State & City Bank.

FE267 Williamson Building.jpg
Intersection showing the Williamson Building on the northwest corner of Church Avenue and Jefferson Street. At the time of this photo it was occupied by the Sportsman, Deb Fashions, Thom McCann Shoes. The building was razed in 1977.

FE271 Roanoke Public Warehouse.jpg
Roanoke Public Warehouse was located at 403 Salem Avenue.

FE272 Ponce de Leon Hotel.jpg
The original Ponce de Leon Hotel located at 131 Campbell Avenue SW. The elegant verandas are gone by the time this photograph was taken. In December 1930, the building was totally destroyed by fire, killing one resident and injuring others. It was…

FE273 Market Building.jpg
The Market Building appears largely unchanged today from when it was built in 1922.

FE276 Municipal Building.jpg
The Municipal Building was built in 1915.

FE279 McBain Building.jpg
The McBain building, located at 34 Campbell Avenue.

FE280 Hammond Printing.jpg
Hammond's Printing and Litho Works, formerly located on the southeast corner of Jefferson Street and Luck Avenue,

FE281 Phelps & Armistead.jpg
Phelps & Armistead Furniture, formerly located at 312 2nd Street SW. The building would later be occupied by Grand Piano.

FE283 Post Office.jpg
Roanoke's second federally funded post office was constructed on the same site as the first, the corner of Church Avenue and 1st Street. It was built in 1914 and replaced in 1933.

FE284 Roanoke Lodge #197.jpg
Roanoke Lodge #197 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The lodge stood on the southeast corner of Jefferson Street and Franklin Road

FE285 Colonial Bank Building.jpg
Colonial National Bank building, located at 202 S. Jefferson Street.

FE287 Roanoke High School.jpg
Roanoke High School was built in 1898 on the northeast corner of Church Avenue and 3rd Street SW. It became the school administration building in 1924 after Jefferson High School opened. It was razed in 1968 for construction of the Municipal…

FE288 McBain Building.jpg
The McBain building, located at 34 Campbell Avenue.

FE289 Medical Arts Building.jpg
Located at 30 Franklin Road, the Professional (or Medical) Arts Building was built in 1929.

FE290 City Hotel.jpg
City Hotel was built in 1886 on the southeast corner of Jefferson Street and Salem Avenue.

FE291 School Administration.jpg
Roanoke High School was built in 1898 on the northeast corner of Church Avenue and 3rd Street SW. It became the school administration building in 1924 after Jefferson High School opened. It was razed in 1968 for construction of the Municipal…

FE293 Jefferson Apartments.jpg
The Jefferson Apartments, formerly located at 820 S. Jefferson Street. This view looks west on Mountain Avenue.

FE294 Shenandoah Building.jpg
The Shenandoah Building is located at 305 1st Street.

FE296 McGuire Building.jpg
The McGuire Building and Market Square.

FE298 Coulter Building.jpg
Built in 1926, the Coulter Building is located at 601 S. Jefferson Street.

FE301 Market Square.jpg
In the days before trucks were ubiquitous, farmers brought their goods to the City Market in buckboards, carts, and Conestoga wagons.

PC 129.0 Terry Building.jpg
"Terry Building, Roanoke Virginia"

PC 132.4 Greetings from Roanoke.jpg
"Looking to the north on Jefferson Street, part of the business section can be seen with Elmwood Park shown in the foreground. Also known as the Star City of the South."

PC 128.33 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Jefferson Street, looking south, Roanoke, Virginia."

Creasy4 Texas Tavern.jpg
A Roanoke landmark, Texas Tavern is located at 114 Church Avenue SW.

Creasy6 707 Building.jpg
The 707 Building, located at 707 S. Jefferson Street.

Creasy8 Church Avenue.jpg
Looking east on Church Avenue at 2nd Street. The old YMCA building is seen on the left and Greene Memorial United Methodist on the right.

Creasy10 Main Library.jpg
Construction of the Main Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries.

Creasy11 Main Library.jpg
Construction of the Main Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries.

Creasy12 Main Library.jpg
Construction of the Main Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries.

Creasy17 Centennial Parade.jpg
Crowds line Jefferson Street for the Roanoke Centennial Parade.

Creasy18 Centennial Parade.jpg
Replica 1892 Heironimus float in the Roanoke Centennial Parade.

Creasy19 Centennial Parade.jpg
Marines reenact the raising of the American Flag at Iwo Jima in the Roanoke Centennial Parade.

Creasy20 Centennial Parade.jpg
Roanoke Transportation Museum float in the Roanoke Centennial Parade.

Creasy21 Center Groundbreaking.jpg
The groundbreaking of Center in the Square. From left to right: Frank Clement, Mayor Noel C. Taylor, George Cartledge, E.K. Mattern and City Manager Bern Ewert.

Creasy22 Center Groundbreaking.jpg
E.K. Mattern, Mayor Noel C. Taylor and City Manager Bern Ewert at groundbreaking of Center in the Square.

Creasy23 Center Groundbreaking.jpg
E.K. Mattern, Mayor Noel C. Taylor and City Manager Bern Ewert at groundbreaking of Center in the Square.

Creasy24 City Market.jpg
Vendors on the City Market.

Creasy25 City Market.jpg
Crumpacker Orchards on the City Market.

Creasy26 City Market.jpg
Vendors on the City Market

Creasy27 City Market.jpg
Vendors on the City Market.

Creasy28 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy29 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy30 City Market.jpg
Vendors on the City Market,.

Creasy31 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy32 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy33 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy34 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy35 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy36 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy38 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy39 City Market.jpg
An unidentified vendor prepares produce to sell on the City Market.

Creasy40 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy42 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy43 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy44 City Market.jpg
Customers shop at vendor stalls on the City Market.

Creasy45 City Market.jpg
Mountain Top Orchards sells produce on the City Market,

PC 132.7 Downtown Roanoke.jpg
"Downtown Roanoke, Virginia looking north on Jefferson Street with the Main Branch of the Roanoke Public Library in the foreground."

PS 6.1 Municipal Building.jpg
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, located at 215 Church Avenue.

PS 13.2 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.6 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.8 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.10 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.12 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.21 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.24 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.31 Poff Building.jpg
Construction of Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.57 Poff Building.jpg
The entrance of a newly completed Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.58 Poff Building.jpg
A newly completed Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.59 Poff Building.jpg
A newly completed Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 13.510 Poff Building.jpg
A newly completed Poff Federal Building, located at 210 Franklin Road, SW.

PS 76.0 WP Swartz.jpg
W.P. Swartz & Company, formerly located at 421 Luck Avenue, SW.

PS 261.1 Davidsons Menswear.jpg
Window displays at Davidson's Menswear.

PS 261.2 Davidsons Menswear.jpg
Window displays at Davidson's Menswear.

PS 283 Capitol Saloon.jpg
Unidentified men stand outside the Capitol Saloon once located at 23 Salem Avenue, SW.

UCT1.jpg
The home of William K. Andrews was located in the 600 block of Campbell Avenue.

UCT6.jpg
Commerce Street School, also called First Ward School, was located at the corner of Church Avenue and 2nd (Commerce) Street. Built in 1890, it was razed in 1929 to make room for the post office.

UCT7.jpg
Home once located at 342 Campbell Avenue SW.

UCT8.jpg
The old First Baptist Church, formerly located on opposite side of 3rd Street from the new building.

UCT10.jpg
S.H. Heironimus and Company was located at 37-39 Campbell Avenue SW.

UCT14.jpg
The original Ponce de Leon Hotel located at 131 Campbell Avenue SW. The elegant verandas are gone by the time this photograph was taken. In December 1930, the building was totally destroyed by fire, killing one resident and injuring others. It was…

UCT17.jpg
The home of Henry S. Trout was located at 606 Campbell Avenue SW.

UCT25.jpg
The old St. Mark's Lutheran Church was located on the corner of Campbell Avenue and 3rd Street SW.

UCT26.jpg
The Shenandoah Club was established in 1893 at 24 Franklin Road SW. It was later replaced by the current building.

UCT28.jpg
The Times Building (left) and J.M. Oakey Funeral Home once occupied the buildings located at 122-124 Campbell Avenue SW.

UCT36.jpg
The building at 17 Campbell Avenue SW once housed the Evening World offices.

UCT37.jpg
First Presbyterian Church moved into its second location at the corner of 3rd Street and Church Avenue SW in 1875.

UCT38.jpg
The home of Dr. Joseph A. Gale was located at 616 S. Jefferson Street.

TNC 51.1 AEP Building.jpg
Appalachian Power, located at 606 1st Street, SW.

TNC 51.2 AEP Building.jpg
Construction of Appalachian Power building viewed from 1st Street, SW.

TNC 51.3 AEP Building.jpg
Construction of Appalachian Power building from Franklin Road, located at 606 1st Street, SW.

TNC 54.0 Dominion Tower.jpg
Dominion Tower construction shown from the roof of 213 S. Jefferson Street.

TNC 61.0 YWCA Building.jpg
The former Roanoke YWCA building located at 605 1st Street, SW.

LDW6 Loebl Fleet.jpg
A fleet of four Loebl Dye Works dry cleaning trucks parked in front of Loebl Dye Works on Salem Avenue.

LDW7 Loebl Fleet.jpg
Loebl Dye Works dry cleaning trucks parked in front of Loebl Dye Works on Salem Avenue.

LDW15 Loebl Dye Works.jpg
As seen here, Loebl Dye Works once filled a row of buildings on Salem Avenue.

LDW17 Loebl Dye Works.jpg
After the explosion of synthetic fabrics in the 1970s, Loebl Dye Works went out of business in 1981. The building was razed in 2001. The buildings at left in this photograph were also once used by the business and still stand today.

RVNH40115.jpg
Photo postcard of Smartwear-Irving Saks to promote opening of remodeled store.

RVNH40189.jpg
Pyrofax gas truck in front on A.L. Nelson Truck Company on Shenandoah Avenue.

RVNH40190.jpg
A.L. Nelson Truck Company on Shenandoah Avenue.

RVNH40194.jpg
A.L. Nelson Company with Tucker car showroom on Shenandoah Avenue. Mr. Nelson spent $40,000 to house one Tucker 48 model based on Tucker Company guidelines.

RVNH40195.jpg
A Tucker 48 car is displayed in Downtown Roanoke in front of Smartwear-Irving Saks.

RVNH40198.jpg
A balloon float in the Roanoke Christmas parade.

RVNH40214.jpg
Looking east on Campbell Avenue from intersection with Jefferson Street.

RVNH40218.jpg
M.J. Patsel Druggists, formerly located at 202 2nd Street SW.

RVNH40240.jpg
Grand opening of Ewald-Clark in Downtown Roanoke, formerly located at 17 Church Avenue.

RVNH40249.jpg
Looking north on S. Jefferson Street. Patrick Henry Hotel visible at left; Elmwood Diner visible at right.

RVNH40292.jpg
Looking west on Church Avenue near the Jefferson Street intersection.

RVNH40296.jpg
Intersection of 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW. M.J. Patsel Druggists visible at right.

RVNH40297.jpg
Soldiers march in a parade on Campbell Avenue at 3rd Street SW.

RVNH40312.jpg
Looking north on Franklin Road from the intersection with Elm Avenue SW.

RVNH40315.jpg
Looking east on Kirk Avenue SW.

RVNH40428.jpg
Colored Division of the Norfolk & Western Veterans Association meeting in front of the Virginia Theatre.

RVNH5006.jpg
In 1954, S&W Cafeteria moved from Jefferson Street to 16 Church Avenue in the former Greyhound Bus Terminal.

RVNH5007.jpg
The Times-World Building on Campbell Avenue.

RVNH5015.jpg
Postcard depicting Lewis-Gale Hospital when it was located at the corner of 3rd Street and Luck Avenue.

RVNH5018.jpg
A billboard for Piedmont Airlines atop storefronts in the 500 block of South Jefferson Street Piedmont was one of the main air carriers serving the Roanoke Valley during the 1950s. The company was headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC.

PC 128.32 Jefferson Street.jpg
"Jefferson Street, looking north from Church Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia."
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