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 (6448 total)

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

TNC 55.0 Glidden Store.jpg
Grand opening of the Glidden Paint store, formerly located at 3846 Electric Road.

TNC 57.0 Vaughn Market.tif
J.M. Vaughn Market, formerly located at 140 Railroad Avenue in Eagle Rock, Virginia

TNC 58.0 Richfield.jpg
Aerial view of Richfield Living. View shows nursing care center built in 1971 located at 3615 W. Main Street in Salem.

TNC 58.1 Richfield.jpg
Aerial view of Richfield Living. View shows nursing care center built in 1971 located at 3615 W Main Street in Salem.

TNC 58.2 Richfield.jpg
Aerial view of Richfield Living. View shows nursing care center built in 1971 located at 3615 W Main Street in Salem.

TNC 58.4 AEP Construction.jpg
Aerial view showing site of future Appalachian Power Service Center, located at 803 River Avenue, SE. Roanoke Industrial Center in the foreground.

TNC 59.0 Whipple Company Store.jpg
Whipple Company Store, located at 7485 Okey L. Patteson Road, Scarbro, WV.

TNC 60.0 The Gables.jpg
The Gables Shopping Center, located at 1322 S. Main Street in Blacksburg. Tenenants included Leggett's, Mick or Mack, Sears, A&P, Gables Pharmacy, T,G,&Y, High's Ice Cream, First Virginia Bank, Firestone, and Sherwin Williams Paints.

TNC 60.1 Corning.jpg
Corning plant, located at 3050 N. Franklin Street in Christiansburg.

TNC 60.2 LGH Montgomery.jpg
Montgomery County Hospital, now LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, is located at 3700 S. Main Street, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.3 Marriott.jpg
Shown under construction is the Marriott formerly located on Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg across from the Virginia Tech Golf Course.

TNC 60.4 Blacksburg High.jpg
The old Blacksburg High School, later old Blacksburg Middle School, was located in the 500 block of S. Main Street in Blacksburg. The middle school closed in 2002 after completion of the new midle school on Prices Fork Road. The building was razed…

TNC 60.6 Burruss Hall.jpg
Burruss Hall on the campus of Virginia Tech.

TNC 60.5 NB of Blacksburg.jpg
National Bank of Blacksburg, located at 901 N. Main Street in Blacksburg

TNC 60.7 Blacksburg Christian Church.jpg
Blacksburg Christian Church, located at 240 Watson Avenue, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.9 Montomery Mutual.jpg
Montgomery County Mutual, formerly located at 104 Jackson Street, Blacksburg,

TNC 60.11 NB of Blacksburg.jpg
National Bank of Blacksburg, located at 100 S. Main Street, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.12 FNEB.jpg
First National Exchange Bank, formerly located at 200 N. Main Street, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.13 Blacksburg Presbyterian.jpg
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, located at 701 Church Street, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.14 First Federal Savings.jpg
First Federal Savings of Roanoke, formerly located at 1206 S. Main Street, Blacksburg.

TNC 60.15 FNEB.jpg
First National Exchange Bank, formerly locate at 1204 S. Main Street, Blacksburg.

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

TNC 63.0 WKT Law Office.jpg
Willett, Key, and Tatel Law Office, formerly located at 109 Highland Avenue, SW.

Memoir1937.pdf
The Memoir was the annual for Troutville High School.

Memoir1938.pdf
The Memoir was the Annual for Troutville High School.

Underwood 8 Colonial Heights.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke from Colonial Heights

Underwood 1 Roanoke from 13500.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke from 13500 feet.

Underwood 10 East on Campbell.jpg
Aerial view looking east down Campbell Avenue

Underwood 11 West on Campbell.jpg
Aerial view looking west on Campbell Avenue

Underwood 13 Hotel Roanoke.jpg
Aerial view of Hotel Roanoke and Roanoke Auditorium.

Underwood 15 Jefferson High.jpg
Aerial view of Jefferson High School

Underwood 16 Highland Park School.jpg
Aerial view of Highland Park Elementary School, known as Park Street School at the time of this photo.

Underwood 17 Althletic Field.jpg
Aerial view of athletic field that would become the location of Victory Stadium and Maher Field.

Underwood 18 Mill Mountain.jpg
Aerial view of Mill Mountain, including the Mill Mountain Incline and Roanoke Hospital.

Underwood 19 N&W Yards.jpg
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway yards.

Underwood 2 Roanoke Looking West.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke looking west

Underwood 20 Virginia Heights.jpg
Aerial view of Virginia Heights

Underwood 21 West Roanoke.jpg
Aerial view of northwest Roanoke

Underwood 24 Raleigh Court.jpg
Aerial view of Raleigh Court

Underwood 25 American Viscose.jpg
Aerial view of American Viscose Corporation.

Underwood 26 N&W Shops.jpg
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway shops

Underwood 27 Virginia Bridge & Iron.jpg
Aerial view of Virginia Bridge & Iron Company.tif

Underwood 28 Crozer Iron Furnace.jpg
Aerial view of the Iron Furnace and Pyrites plant

Underwood 29 Roanoke Railway & Electric.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke Railway & Electric Company's power station, substation, car barn and shops.

Underwood 3 Downtown Looking Southwest.jpg
Aerial view of downtown Roanoke looking southwest

Underwood 30 Roanoke Railway & Electric.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke Railway & Electric Company's power station, substation, car barn and shops.

Underwood 31 Roanoke Railway & Electric.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke Railway & Electric Company's hydroelectric plant

Underwood 32 St Andrews.jpg
Aerial view of St. Andrews Catholic Church.

Underwood 33 Mountain View.jpg
Aerial view of Mountain View, the J.B. Fishburn home.

Underwood 35 Lakeside.jpg
Aerial view of Lakeside Amusement Park.

Underwood 36 Virginia College.jpg
Aerial view of Virginia College.

Underwood 37 Hollins College.jpg
Aerial View of Hollins College, now Hollins University.

Underwood 38 Roanoke College.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke College.

Underwood 39 North of Roanoke.jpg
Aerial view looking north of Roanoke. Williamson Road can be seen bisecting the photo from top to bottom. At the bottom left, the first street left of Williamson is Sycamore Avenue. The street above Sycamore is Thurston Avenue. The entire block…

Underwood 4 East on Campbell.jpg
Aerial view looking east on Campbell Avenue.

Underwood 40 Norwich.jpg
Aerial view of the Norwich neighborhood.

Underwood 41 Roanoke from South.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke from the south. The road entering the photo at bottom right is Starkey Road heading north. The Shell country store is currently located where Starkey veers right in this photo. This section of the road is now the path of…

Underwood 44 South of Roanoke.jpg
Aerial view of mountains at the south edge of Roanoke.

Underwood 45 Carvins Cove.jpg
Aerial view of Falling Creek Reservoir.

Underwood 47 Vinton.jpg
Aerial view of Vinton.

Underwood 49 Troutville.jpg
Aerial view of Troutville.

Underwood 5 North on Jefferson.jpg
Aerial view looking north on Jefferson Street.

Underwood 50 Fincastle.jpg
Aerial view of Fincastle.

Underwood 6 N&W Shops.jpg
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway shops

Underwood 7 Roanoke from Stone Mountain.jpg
Aerial view of Roanoke from Stone Mountain

Underwood 9 Downtown Looking Southeast.jpg
Aerial view of downtown Roanoke looking southeast

Underwood 52 New London.jpg
Aerial view of New London in Campbell County, Virginia.

MP 19.0 Cannaday House.jpg
Cannaday House, also known as Waverly Plantation was purchased by Woodrum Airport in 1934. The house was used as a weather station and terminal for the remainder of the 1928s. It was razed in 1955 to make room for growth of the airport.

McCain1 Medical Complex.jpg
This medical complex on Henry Street at Centre Avenue NW included (top left) Community Drug Store, where Dr. Beverly Adams (bottom left) was a pharmacist. Also in the building was the dental office of Dr. H.T. Penn (on right).

McCain2 Lynhaven Smoke Shop.jpg
Gathering for a 1942 postcard at the Lynhaven Smoke Shop, formerly located at 125 N. Henry Street are from left: Mr. Roberts, Lorenzo Redd, Hobart Eggleston, Dr. George A. Moore, owner Bill Marshall and his son, James "Anse" Marshall.

McCain3 Lincoln Theatre.jpg
Group photo of Norfolk & Western Veterans Association Colored Division in front of the Lincoln Theatre. Originally built as the Strand Theatre (circa 1920). The Strand Theater took a new name “The Lincoln Theater”. The theater eventually became the…

RREC1 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street from the Campbell Avenue intersection.

RREC3 Lynchburg Traction & Light.jpg
Unidentified employees of Lynchburg Traction & Light Company in front of the "streetcar barn". Lynchburg Traction & Light Company was the predescessor to the Lynchburg Division of Appalachian Power.

RREC4 Downtown Roanoke.jpg
A bird's-eye view of Downtown Roanoke at Jefferson Street looking toward Mill Mountain. The St. James Hotel is visible in the foreground. At right can be seen the Terry Building.

RREC9 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street at the Campbell Avenue Intersection. The Didier Grocers building at right, in earlier days, housed the street railway offices and provided a waiting room for the cars. In the middle of Jefferson Street, a horsecar…

RREC10 9th Street SE.jpg
Passengers board and disembark streetcars on 9th Street SE near American Viscose.

RREC11 Line Crew.jpg
Line Crew of the Roanoke Railway and Electric Company. From left are: Jim Payne (foreman), unidentified, Stannoke Maxey (lineman), last two unidentified.

RREC12 Mill Mountain.jpg
A panoramic view showing Mill Mountain looming over the Walnut Avenue Steam Plant of the Roanoke Railway & Electric Company.

RREC15 Meter Line Crew.jpg
Frank Haley (left) and Al Firebaugh of the Meter Cut-In Crew.

RREC16 Carrie.jpg
Roanoke Railway & Electric steam dummy Number 2, Carrie, with a Roanoke and Salem coach attached is shown, reportedly on its maiden run in 1890.

RREC19 Number 44.jpg
Brill car Number 44 after a collision with a Virginian Railway locomotive under the Walnut Avenue bridge.

RREC20 Number 44.jpg
Another view of Brill car Number 44 after a collision with a Virginian Railway locomotive under the Walnut Avenue Bridge.

RREC21 Utility Wagon.jpg
A utility wagon of the Roanoke Railway & Electric Company and its companion mule.

Scyphers1 View from Mill Mountain.jpg
A view of Roanoke from Mill Mountain.

Scyphers3 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street at the Franklin Road intersection. Visible at left is the Elks Lodge and the Elmwood Diner. Also visible is Hammond Printing and Litho Works.

Scyphers4 1st Street.jpg
Looking south on 1st Street.

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Scyphers5 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street at the Church Avenue intersection. Visible are The Sportsman Restaurant, Bernard's Menswear, Thomas McAn Shoes, Kann's Apparel, Hoffheimer's Shoes, Holiday's Shoe Store and the American Theatre.

Scyphers6 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street. Visible are Holiday's Shoe Store, Hoffheimer's Shoes, Kann's Apparel, Thomas McAn Shoes, The Sportsman Restaurant and Heironimus.

Scyphers7 Church Avenue.jpg
Looking west on Church Avenue from Jefferson Street. Visible are the Sportsman Restaurant, Parker Photo Studio, Junior Achievement of the Roanoke Valley, Kaybee Store and Moskin's Store.

Scyphers8 Franklin Road.jpg
Looking west on Franklin Road from Jefferson Street. Visible are the Knights of Pythias building, Star Barber Shop, Roanoke Valley Heart Association, GAC Finance, Riley's Cafe, Thornton & Creasy Drugs, and Holdren's

Scyphers9 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street. Visible are Heironimus, The Sportsman Restaurant, Thomas McAn Shoes, Kann's Apparel, Hoffheimer's Shoes, Holiday's Shoe Store and the American Theatre.

Scyphers11 Japanese Magnolia.jpg
The Japanese Magnolia in Elmwood Park.

Scyphers12 Shenandoah Life.jpg
Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, formerly located at 2301 Brambleton Avenue.

Scyphers13 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking south on Jefferson Street from Franklin Road. Visible are John Norman Clothing, the Park Theatre, State Office Supplies and Gifts, the Coulter Building, People's Drugstore and the Patrick Henry Hotel.

Scyphers14 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking west on Campbell Avenue from 1st Street. Visible are Leggett's, George T. Hitch Jewelers, Singer Sewing Machines, Beckner's and Easter's.

Scyphers15 Elmwood Park.jpg
A view of the pond in Elmwood Park. The Terry House is visible on the hill.

Scyphers16 Elmwood Park.jpg
The pond in Elmwood Park. The Greyhound Bus Station is visible in the background.

Scyphers17 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street. Visible are State Office Supply and Gifts, Hammond's Printing & Litho Works, Johnnie's Steakhouse, Jefferson Theatre, Heironimus, Sidney's and Thornton & Creasy Drugs.

Scyphers18 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street from Franklin Road. Visible are State Office Supply and Gifts, Hammond's Printing & Litho Works, Johnnie's Steakhouse, Jefferson Theatre, Heironimus, Sidney's and Thornton & Creasy Drugs.

Scyphers19 View from Mill Mountain.jpg
A view of Roanoke from Mill Mountain.

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Scyphers20 Pocahontas.jpg
The Norfolk & Western Pocahontas passenger train, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.

Scyphers21 Pocahontas.jpg
Passengers aboard the Norfolk & Western Pocahontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.

Scyphers23 N&W GP9.jpg
Norfolk & Western GP9 #516 locomotive pulling the Pocahontas near the N&W shops.

Scyphers24 Mill Mountain Overlook.jpg
Overlook once on Mill Mountain in front of Rockeldge Inn seen at dusk.

Scyphers25 Jefferson Street.jpg
A view of the Jefferson Theatre and Heironimus on Jefferson Street.

Scyphers26 Pocahontas.jpg
Norfolk & Western employees stand in the doorway of the Pochontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.

Scyphers28 Pocahontas.jpg
Passengers aboard the Norfolk & Western Pocahontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.

Scyphers33 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking north on Jefferson Street at the Church Avenue intersection. Visible are The Sportsman Restaurant, Bernard's Menswear, Thomas McAn Shoes, Kann's Apparel, Hoffheimer's Shoes, Holiday's Shoe Store and the American Theatre.

PC 132.0 Views of Roanoke.jpg
"Views of Roanoke"

PC 132.1 View of Roanoke.jpg
"View of Roanoke, Virginia"

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PC 132.2 View of Roanoke Valley.jpg
"Roanoke Valley on the line of the Norfolk & Western Railway, Virginia."

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PC 132.8 South Roanoke.jpg
"South Roanoke"

PC 132.9 Virginia Heights.jpg
"Virginia Heights"

PC 132.91 Virginia Heights.jpg
"Virginia Heights Bridge and Roanoke River"

PC 133.03 Virginia College.jpg
"Virginia College (Young Ladies), Roanoke, Virginia"

PC 135.0 YMCA.jpg
"Central YMCA, Roanoke, Virginia"

PC 139.11 Roanoke College.jpg
"Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia"

PC 139.16 Camp Fort Lewis.jpg
"Tourist Camp Fort Lewis Courts. Steam heat, tile private baths, innerspring mattresses, closed garages. One of the best in the east, 8 miles west of Roanoke, Virginia. One-half mile west of Salem, Virginia. US Route No. 11. Open all year. Mr. and…

PC 139.17 Browns.jpg
"Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair Brown, Rev. G.L. Brown. Salem, Virginia October 20, 1908"

MP 4.421 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking east on Campbell Avenue from 1st Street during paving. People's Drugstore, Standard Drug, Krees & Co. and Lerner Shops were several of the businesses along this block.

MP 4.422 Campbell Avenue.jpg
Looking east on busy Campbell Avenue from 1st Street. People's Drugstore, Standard Drug, Kress & Co. and Lerner Shops were several of the businesses along this block.

MP 4.423 1st Street.jpg
Looking south on 1st Street from the 1st Street Bridge. The bridge connected Henry Street to Downtown Roanoke. The bridge was renamed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2003.

MP 24.5 Mt. Pleasant School.jpg
Unidentified students in front of Mt. Pleasant School in Roanoke County.

LDW4 Cleaning and Alterations.jpg
In addition to dyeing, Loebl also provided dry cleaning and alteration services. Photo is labeled with the following names, though their order as they appear is unclear: Minnie Duncan, Gertrude Gentry, Mrs. Flippen, Stella Taylor, and Miss Sandberg

LDW5 Loebl, Josef.jpg
Hungarian born, Josef Loebl grew up in Austia. He set up his dyeing and cleaning shop on Salem Avenue in the 1920s.

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.

LDW8 Customer Counter.jpg
Robert Loebl, Hattie Mae Beck and Iva M. Spangler in the pick-up and drop-off area of Loebl Dye Works.

LDW9 Loebl Interior.jpg
Josef Loebl (center) and two unidentified men in "storefront" of Loebl Dye Works

LDW10 Staging Area.jpg
William Staples, Iva Staples and an unknown woman prepare garments for cleaning and alterations at Loebl Dye Works.

LDW11 Cleaning Area.jpg
Unidentified Loebl employees in the cleaning area.

LDW12 Dyeing Area.jpg
Unidentified Loebl employees in the dyeing area.

LDW13 Cleaning Area.jpg
Robert Loebl (left) inspects the work of unidentified employees on the Hoffman Pressing Machine.

LDW14 Cleaning Area.jpg
Robert Loebl (left) and two unidentfied men in the next to the cleaning tumblers.

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.

BM001.jpg
Students at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

BM023.jpg
Family of John and Sarah (Hayes) Harris. L to R: Sarah Jane, William, Lutie, Susie, Elisha, George, John, Eliza, and Benjamin. The family lived in the Back Creek section of Roanoke County.

BM024.jpg
Mountain burial in family cemetery, probably Martin-Simpson cemetery near Martins Creek Road in Southwest Roanoke County.

BM025.jpg
Louisa (Martin) and Daniel Simpson. The Simpsons lived on Martins Creek Road in Southwest Roanoke County.

BM026.jpg
Home and family of Daniel Simpson on Martins Creek in Southwest Roanoke County.

BM027.jpg
William and Mary Katherine (Poage) Grisso residents of Cave Spring section in Southwest Roanoke County.

BM028.jpg
Home of John and Susie (Harris) Grisso in Cave Spring, Roanoke County. The home burned in 1946.

BM029.jpg
Cave Spring Baptist Church

BM031.jpg
R.T. Fralin, Sr., Ran Lynn Drive in Roanoke County.

BM032.jpg
Fralin home in Cave Spring.

BM033.jpg
Fralin barn on Ran Lynn Drive in Roanoke County.

BM035.jpg
Fralin home on Ran Lynn Drive in Roanoke County.

BM036.jpg
Riley T. Fralin, Sr, and Jr. at intersection of Ran Lynn Drive and Poage Valley Road.

BM039.jpg
Aunt Nadine Henderson takes nephews and nieces for an afternoon ride in Back Creek. Standing L to R: Bobby, Nadine, David and Charles Ed Henderson; On horse L to R: Paige Riley, Ray Henderson Corky, Barbara & Kay Henderson, Brent Riley.

BM041.jpg
Back Creek School with "new" addition.

BM042.jpg
Back Creek School.

BM043.jpg
Students in front of Back Creek School.

BM045.jpg
Haran Baptist Church

BM046.jpg
Youth in front of Haran Baptist Church. Front row, L to R: Gaynelle Simpson, Shirley Rierson; Second row, L to R: Preston Webster, Ruby Kirkwood, Nelson Simpson; Back row, L to R: Jimmy Kirkwood, Lorene Simpson, Polly Rierson, Norris Webster

BM047.jpg
Omer C. Simpson. Simpson lived on Martins Creek Road.

BM048.jpg
Omer C. Simpson

BM049.jpg
First row, L to R: Albert Turner, ? Webster; Second row, L to R: Janette Turner, Nelson Simpson, ?, O.C. Simpson, Jr., Third row, L to R: Francis Simpson, Colleen Grubb, Christine Simpson, Beatrice Peters, ?, Lorene Simpson; Back row, L to R: Vinson…

BM050.jpg
Hazel Tinsley and Mauvieleen S. Altis in front of Back Creek Elementary School.

BM051.jpg
W.F. Bolton's 8th grade class at Back Creek School.

BM052.jpg
L to R: Joe Beard, Effie Beard, Mauvieleen Stanley, Nannie Bracy, Edna Altis, Mary Altis, Nannie Altis, Clarence Altis, Clara Altis, Willie Bracy

BM053.jpg
L to R: Joe Beard, Mildred Beard, Charles Altis, Effie Beard, Willie Bracy, Mauvieleen Stanley, Clarence Altis

BM054.jpg
Front row, L to R: William Gilford Christley Jr., Ivy Mae Christley, Louise Christley, William Gilford Christley Sr., Grant Christley; Back row, L to R: Monroe Christley, Elsie Christley, Milan Christley, Glenna Christley, Bertha Christley, Arlen…

BM056.jpg
Front row, L to R: Louise Christley Williams, George Franklin Christley, Iva Mae Christley Ferguson, Elsie Christley, Bertha Christley, ?, Back row, L to R: Bill Christley, Pauline Christley, Monroe Christley, Thora Christley, Milan Christley,…

BM057.jpg
Former Elijah Poage store/warehouse on Old Mill Road in Poages Mill.

BM058.jpg
Photo taken in front of the Christley Homeplace on Mt. Chestnut Road in Roanoke County; Seated L to R: Margaret Powell Christley, Arlen F. “Pete” Christley; Standing, L to R: Keith B. Christley, Warren Christley, Joyce Christley Clowers, Michael…

BM059.jpg
Back Creek High School. L to R: Gertie Hopper, Glenna Christley, Camile Lavender, Cleda Grisso, Elsie Christley; man at back is Shelton Gates.

BM065.jpg
Reed’s Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

BM066.jpg
Marvin P. “Fats” Reed at the counter in Reed's Store at the intersection of Martins Creek Road and Route 221.

BM067.jpg
Rierson’s Grocery on Route 221.

BM068.jpg
Rock store near Poage Farm on Route 221.

BM069.jpg
Back Creek Elementary School under re-construction.

BM070.jpg
L to R: Ned Martin, Omer .C. Simpson, Jr., Charles Day and Gordon Willett (background) at Haran Baptist Church.

BM071.jpg
The woman sitting in the wagon is Annie Blankenship Martin, the man at right is Olvin Martin; American Chestnut in background; photo probably taken in Martins Creek Road area of Roanoke County. All others unidentified.

BM072.jpg
Photo taken at Thelma Willett’s home. Seated front, L to R: Marilyn Givens, Norma Jean Martin; Seated middle, L to R: Mae Austin Martin, Pearl Martin Wertz; Standing, L to R: Edith Martin Filson, Dorothy Martin Bass.

BM073.jpg
Alfonso Martin, a resident of Martins Creek Road.

BM074.jpg
Tilden Hendrix Martin, a resident of Martins Creek Road.

BM075.jpg
Omer C. Simpson, Jr., Christine Simpson, Lorene Simpson, residents of Martins Creek Road.

BM076.jpg
Nelson Simpson, a resident of Martins Creek Road. Photo probably taken at home of his parents O.C. and Mary Simpson.

BM077.jpg
L to R: Tilden H. Martin, Gertrude Martin Duling, Alfonso Martin, Otey Martin.

BM078.jpg
Back row, far left Annie Blankenship Martin, Olvin Martin; far right Louisa Martin, Daniel N. Simpson. Photo taken in front of the Martin-Simpson homeplace on Martins Creek Road. All others unidentified.

BM080.jpg
Olvin Martin home, built in 1877, was located on Martins Creek Road.

BM081.jpg
Tilden Martin and Lamar Martin barn on Martins Creek Road.

BM082.jpg
Idle band saw at Lamar Martin farm on Martins Creek Road.

BM083.jpg
Sam Hailey and his work mules.

BM084.jpg
Raleigh “Buck” Owens' spray engine for use in orchard.

BM085.jpg
Omer Simpson barn on Martins Creek Road.

BM089.jpg
Home of Mary (Mollie) Poage across the creek from the Poage farm on Route 221.

BM090.jpg
Poage home and farm along Route 221.

BM091.jpg
1840 deed for 66 acres belonging to Jane Poage as part of land granted to her from her father, John Poage.

BM092.jpg
Back Creek 4-H Club.

BM093.jpg
Sarah Rettinger Henry (left) and Nannie Rettinger Grisso.

BM094a.jpg
Home of Samuel Henry.

BM094b.jpg
James and Sarah Henry and three daughters in Poages Mill area.

BM095.jpg
Back Creek School girls basketball team. Pictured are Margaret Henry Hartman and Mildred Henry Dimond. All others unidentified.

BM098.jpg
Students at Back Creek School.

BM100.jpg
First Mormon chapel in Southwest Roanoke County, located on Bearing Road.

BM101.jpg
W.L. and Icie Wade (seated center) Family.

BM102.jpg
Ferguson sisters (top) and Christley home on Mt. Chestnut.

BM103.jpg
L to R: Rachel Ferguson, Walter Ferguson, Ocieola Ferguson, Isadora Ferguson, Ivie Ferguson, Charles Ferguson, James Ferguson, William H. Ferguson

BM104.jpg
Top photo, pictured: Jim Ferguson, Ivie Ferguson, Herbert Henderson, Maggie Ferguson, Margaret Rachel Ferguson, William H. Ferguson, Bertha Wade, Henry Wade . Bottom photo, pictured L to R: Ivie Ferguson, Jim Ferguson, Icie Ferguson, Aunt Paulina,…

BM105.jpg
Margaret Rachel Owens Ferguson and William H. Ferguson.

BM106.jpg
1. Isadora Ferguson Wade, 2. William Lee Wade, 3. Oren Wade, 4. Henry Wade, 5. Barney Owens. Photo was taken at the apple orchard at the Wade home. All others unidentified.

BM107.jpg
Charcoal drawing of Henry Booker Wade.

BM110.jpg
Portion of rock wall, built by Ralph Henry’s great grandfather, along Corntassel Lane. The wall still exists today.

BM115.jpg
Packing label for L.D. Bell and T.M. Bell at Poages Mill.

BM116.jpg
Harvey Claytor Poage.

BM117.jpg
Poage Family in front of engine on farm. L to R: Harvey Poage, Bill Poage, Lee Poage, Lucy Poage

BM118.jpg
Charlie Poage, son of William Poage, with team of horses in front of Poage farmhouse on Route 221.

BM119.jpg
Unidentified children at Back Creek School.

BM123.jpg
6th graders in Back Creek School classroom.

BM124.jpg
Miss Annie Bohon sells ice cream during lunch at Back Creek Elementary School. The ice cream cooler was inside the front door of the school.

BM125.jpg
Back Creek Elementary School.

BM127.jpg
Students and teachers in front of Back Creek School. Ann Hogan w/tie upper left of group (principal/teacher),

BM128.jpg
Turner home on Martins Creek Road in its final days.

BM129.jpg
Johnnie and Bertha Grubb making apple butter.

BM130.jpg
Ed Sloan, auctioneer, with Harold Ferguson in background

BM131.jpg
L to R: Henry Lee Poage (1891-1960), Arthur Seibert “Ott” Poage (1897-1971), Harvey Claytor Poage (1893-1928) in front of Poage farmhouse

BM132.jpg
L to R: Arthur “Ott” Poage, Henry Lee Poage, Charles Claytor Poage (1848-1931), Harvey Claytor Poage, David Meador

BM134.jpg
Wheeler and Bessie Beckner in front of home, presently located at 7041 Cotton Hill Road

BM135.jpg
Wheeler and Bessie Beckner and John Steele (left) at home on Cotton HIll Road. They logged timber for railroad ties.

BM136.jpg
Beckner homeplace on Cotton Hill Road.

BM140.jpg
Mildred and Roscoe Meador wedding photo; Wheeler Beckner on porch.

BM141.jpg
Grandle Meador, Tina, Alice and Buddy Welcher at Beckner home.

BM142.jpg
Aerial view of Route 419 under construction at Chaparral Drive; Penn Forest Boulevard at bottom.

BM143.jpg
Aerial view looking north at Route 419 construction. The house and barn were located at the current site of the Roanoke County Administrative Offices on Bernard Drive. The earth moving equipment is at the current intersection of Route 419 and…

BM144.jpg
Aerial view showing Green Valley Elementary School, upper right.

BM145.jpg
Aerial view to the northeast of current Route 419 at intersection with Ogden Road. Ogden Road is seen at the top of the photo. At top, right is Ogden Elementary School. The area to the right of the railroad tracks is Cox Communications and Old…

BM147.jpg
House owned by Mrs. Saul, who lived at Starkey; torn down in the 1970s; across from Haran Baptist Church. Stanley family moved there in 1943. Arlene Stanley on porch.

BM148.jpg
House owned by Mrs. Saul, who lived at Starkey; torn down in the 1970s; across from Haran Baptist Church. Stanley family moved there in 1943. Clarence Altis (left) and Robert Carroll.

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House owned by Mrs. Saul, who lived at Starkey; torn down in the 1970s; across from Haran Baptist Church. Stanley family moved there in 1943. Photo taken on Easter Sunday shows Roma Stanley (left) and Clarence Altice.

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Mauvieleen Altis in front of house.

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Mauvieleen Altis, Robert Carroll and Arlene Stanley.

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Clara Altis and Arlene Stanley.

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Arlene Stanley and Clara Altis at Back Creek Elementary School.

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L to R: Martha Tinsley, Alrene Stanley, ?, Mauvieleen Altis, Hazel Tinsley, Ethel Stump.

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Charlie and Minnie Altis home, formerly located on road leading into Old Mill Plantation subdivision from Route 221.

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Charlie amd Minnie Altis with Forrest and Florence Sloan.

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Charlie Altis in his apple orchard on hill behind Altice home.

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Ed and Viola Sloan.

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Bobby, Joyce, Hazel and Robert Altis.

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Sarah and Ballard Martin in front of home. Ballard was a carpenter and farmer.

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Look Out Lodge postcard, Bent Mountain.

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Hubert Earl “Hub” Harris.

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Ballard P. and Sarah Martin

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Hubert Earl Harris & Ola Agee Harris lived where Starkey ball fields are today.

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James C. Fralin being baptized in Back Creek at Poages Mill in 1925 by Chris Eller, Brethren minister.

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Lucy Dyer Poage, Molly Gregson, Jeff Gregson, making apple butter at home in the Poages Mill area.

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Haran Baptist Church

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Students and teachers in front of Back Creek School.

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Kittinger Chapel was located on Landmark Circle in Roanoke County. It was razed in the early 2000s.

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Mary Catherine Sloan Poage

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Emily Bohon and Bessie Brown

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Ruby Holt in front of Holt’s Store on Bent Mountain.

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Home of Dr. E.O. Tinsley on Bent Mountain. The home was called “Sunny Side”. Tinsley’s office was located on right, front corner of porch. The home was on Tinsley Lane. It was razed in the 2000s.

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Col. Fletcher Holt with a snake around his neck. Holt was a taxidermist on Bent Mountain

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Clyde Bohon, who bought Holt’s Store on Bent Mountain.

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Col. Fletcher Holt in his store on Bent Mountain.

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Mount Olivet Baptist Church on Route 221, Bent Mountain.

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May Court at Bent Mountain High School. May Queen (far right) is Carrie Marie Bell; Maid to the Queen (second from right) is Mamie Logan; crown bearer is John Poff, flower girl is Jean Ferguson; Maids are Laura Metz, Bertha Janney, Betty Sisson,…

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Marble players at Bent Mountain School. L to R: Hilton King, Herbert Craighead, Namon Conner, Arnold Mills, Melvin Manning (school champion), Harold Thompson, Fletcher Wimmer.

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Reed’s Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Reed’s Store after the 1948 addition of Dairy Diner, located at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Interior of Reed's Store, located at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Reed’s Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Reed’s Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Baptism of Mary Ann Conner, wife of G.W. Conner, by Elder Leonard Brammer of the Laurel Ridge Primitive Baptist Church, at Fralin home.

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Laurel Ridge Primitive Baptist Church, located on Roselawn Road.

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Bellview Primitive Baptist Church, located on Roselawn Road.

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Hezekiah Lavinder (seated) and his family at their home (located at entrance to Bridlewood, home still standing) off of Route 221.

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Elders of Pigg River Primitive Baptist Association at Basham Church in Stewartsville, Virginia.

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Present-day residence that was the former Haran School, located at 7910 Bent Mountain Road.

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Ralph Henry of the Back Creek Baseball Team. Uniform says Finnell’s, as Finnell & Sons sponsored the team.

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Spectators at Back Creek Elementary School for Back Creek baseball game.

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“Heading the Barrels” at Doc Ferguson’s orchard. L to R: George Yates, Ben Owens, Mr. Minnix, A. Bohon, Doc Ferguson, Will Hokles, Wiley Lavinder.

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Gas ration stamps from 1945.

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Mount Union Church of the Brethren on Bent Mountain. The original 1896 church building is seen. Rev. Oscar Fike (right) and his parents are on the front steps.

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Brethren baptism in a creek in Floyd County.

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Cave Spring Baptist Church.

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Cave Spring Baptist Church

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Cave Spring Baptist Church

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Reed's Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Reed's Store at the intersection of Route 221 and Martins Creek Road.

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Lula Cole Reed, mother of Marvin “Fats” Reed, at Reed’s Store.

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Two unidentified persons at Reed's Store.

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House across road from Reed's Store on Route 221. The house was formerly the Haran School.

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Fruit Growers Telephone Exchange (was also Luther Bell’s store) located on Landmark Circle in Roanoke County.

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Aerial view of Starkey Speedway.

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Stock car racing at Starkey Speedway.

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Stock car racing at Starkey Speedway.

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Students at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

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Back Creek School, back row L to R: Bernice Harmon, Charlie Blankenship, Lonzie Janney, Dempsey Grisso, Dean Dores; Second row, L to R: Buster Webster, Edison Likens, Isaac Sutphin, Grover Sink, Harry Cannaday, Grant Christley; Front row, L to R:…

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School group at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

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School group at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

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School group at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

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School group at old Back Creek School on Landmark Circle in Southwest Roanoke County.

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Sophomore Class at Back Creek School: L to R: Billy Agee, Jane Coon, Edmund Chamberlain, Douglas Grisso, Louis Grisso, Hazel Henderson, John Jones, Mildred Jones, Lotherine Lavinder, Sara Lee Poage, Evelyn Webster

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Back Creek High School, Junior Class, Front row, L to R: Nancy Poage, Pete Christley, Herbert Henderson, Jr., Norman Lavinder, Mary Bowling; Back row, L to R: Bertha Christley, Carl Wade, Bertha Bohon, Martha Jane Henry

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May Day at Back Creek School, L to R: Catherine Bowling, Frances Grubb, Frances Gill, Lotherine Lavinder (Queen), Josephine Grisso, Evelyn Webster; in the front is crown-bearer Nadine Henderson

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Mill wheel at Poage's Mill

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School – probably the old log school house first used for Haran School before larger facility was built.

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Back Creek High School 4-H Club, L to R: Mildred Bohon, Jane Coon, Josephine Grisso, Geraldine Grubb, Hazel Henderson, Mildred Jones, Sue Lane, Nancy Poage, Sara Lee Poage, Emily Rierson, Cornelia Simpson, Evelyn Webster, Irma Wright

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Haran School, front row, L to R: Blanche Ferguson, Robert Ferguson, Billy Bohon, Geneva Poage, Francis Martin, Mae Agee, Mamie Agee, Mina Day, Gladys Bohon, Claude Puckett, Omer Puckett, Floyd Bohon;
Second row, L to R: Lela Jenny, Nellie Ferguson,…

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Roland Ferguson School, located on Twelve O’Clock Knob Road. The teacher was Mildred (Edd) Bell, sister-in-law of Tom and Luther Bell; #1 is Ocie Ferguson, #2 is Icie Ferguson, #3 is Jim Ferguson

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Haran Baptist Church

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Students at Back Creek School.

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Haran Baptist Church

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Ink sketch of Kittinger Chapel, artist unknown.

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Sally Lewis, resident of Poages Mill area.

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Ben Lewis, resident of Haran area.

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Scene at Woodrum Orchard.

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Charcoal drawing of Elmore Martin. Martin served with the 28th Virginia Infantry, CSA. He died in the war.

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Grisso Family, L to R: Ellis Grisso, Mary Grisso, Susie (Harris) Grisso, Price Grisso (small child), John H. Grisso.

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Erecting telephone poles and wire in Back Creek area.

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Unidentified man examining remnants of splintered oak tree struck by lightning on J.H. Grisso farm, the strike of which killed J.H. Grisso

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John Henry and Susie (Harris) Grisso.

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Aerial view of Back Creek Orchard Company at foot of Bent Mountain; owned by Woodrum family, R.S. Stearnes, Dr. E.W. Senter, Jack Kefauver and Clinton Craighead

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Bent Mountain Elementary School

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Back Creek Elementary School

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Dr. Edward Tinsley ready to start rounds on horseback. His house is in background. Tinsley practiced from 1890 to 1940 in the Bent Mountain area.

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Spring at Cave Spring.

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Enjoying a spin in a Metz car. L to R: Neva, Vera, Elba, Raymond, and Alton Reed.

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Luther Bell, board of supervisors member representing Cave Spring.

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Cave Spring Volunteer Fire Department.

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Roanoke County Book Mobile in front of the Roanoke Count Public Library.

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Grant Plaza at Cave Spring, located at 3901 Brambleton Avenue.

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Ola Agee Harris and Hubert E. Harris lived in the Starkey area.

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Sarah and Ballard Martin in front of home. Home is presently located on Shingle Ridge Road, off of Cotton Hill Road. Grandson Damon Martin is in buggy.

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L to R: Alonzo Lockett, Callie Harris Lockett, Pattie Martin at home formerly located across from the old Starkey School.

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Hubert Harris on Salem Avenue in Downtown Roanoke.

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Callie Lockett (seated), L to R: Carol Harris, Alonzo Lockett, Hubert Harris, David Harris, Dorothy Harris

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Callie Lockett (nee Harris). She did not cut her hair after age 16, as she thought it sinful to do so.

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Alonzo Lockett in “Dokkie” fez.

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Harris homeplace along Route 221. It was razed when highway was widened.

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Central Baptist Church, Vacation Bible School. Rev. Arnold Williams is in suit at far left.

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Fralin’s produce stand along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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Home of Elbe and Essie Reed, located behind Reed’s Store.

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1936 Graduating Class of Bent Mountain High School; Standing, L to R: Raymond Carr, George Powell, Homer Reed; Seated, L to R: Elois King, Margaret Jamison

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Reed’s Orchard operation at intersection of Poor Mountain Road and Tinsley Lane. The apple packing shed in photo was built in 1933.

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Aerial view of Reed’s Orchard, located at the intersection of Poor Mountain Road and Tinsley Lane. The house was built by the Woodrum Family, bought by Homer Reed in 1948 and closed as a commercial orchard in 1995.

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Snow being plowed at Coles Egg Farm after a big snow on Bent Mountain.

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Elbe Reed in his store (right) on Route 221. The man at left is unidentified, but possibly a salesman. The store also served as Bent Mountain Post Office.

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Faculty Group at Bent Mountain School; L to R: Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Brook Alderman, ?, Mr. Woods (principal), Ann McGee, Viva Bowles.

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Student group at Bent Mountain School, mostly unidentified, though it does contain Virginia Walters and Cassie Fralin

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Group at Bent Mountain School.

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John Philip Austin at his home located across Route 221 from Mt. Union Church of the Brethren. Austin was the first person to have heart by-pass surgery at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

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John and Virginia Walters Austin sitting on front porch of home with grandchildren.

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Back Creek Elementary School; L to R: Marie Sloan, ?, ?, Gaynelle Simpson, ?

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Play at Poages Mill Church of the Brethren; L to R: Eddy Grisso, Curt Mowles, Norvell Hurt, Dick Agee, Daisy Long

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Lorene Simpson and Polly Rierson.

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House along Route 221, formerly across from Haran Baptist Church.The Stanley Family moved there in 1943. It was razed in late 1960s.

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Back Creek School; L to R: Ethel Stump, Mauvieleen Stanley, Lorene Underwood, Martin Tinsley, Arlene Stanley.

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Mauvieleen Stanley on Route 221 in area of Haran Baptist Church.

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Stanley Family in snow in the Haran area.

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L to R: Clarence Altis, Mauvieleen Stanley, Ida Stanley, Gaye Stanley. The hill behind them is where the King’s Forest subdivision is today along Route 221.

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Diane Altis on pick-up in Back Creak area.

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Look Out Lodge postcard, Bent Mountain.

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Reno Restaurant card, formerly located in Starkey area on Crystal Creek Road.

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Roland Ferguson and family in front of their house. The house is located at 5109 Twelve O’Clock Knob Road.

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“40 Acres” home postcard, Bent Mountain.

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Back Creek School faculty photo; L to R: Ella Clark Henry, Rufus Henry, Mary Turner.

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Preston Hartman home, Cave Spring.

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Preston Hartman

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Henry P. McGuire of Cave Spring in J.L. Dishong fruit and vegetable wagon.

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Postcard of Cave Spring Baptist Church, showing parsonage and sanctuary.

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Ott and Lucy Poage at a dance at Back Creek Elementary School.

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Poff’s Garage, Route 221, Bent Mountain.

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Ruby and Allen Stone, Bent Mountain.

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Allen Stone, Bent Mountain.

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“Old” Bent Mountain School.

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A vacant Christo Evangelical Wesleyan Church in the Bottom Creek area.

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A vacant Bottom Creek Church of the Brethren.

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Former Elbe Reed store and Bent Mountain Post Office on Route 221 in process of being razed.

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Fralin's Produce along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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Ruby and Allen Stone at Union 76 Service Station along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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Stone’s Union 76 Service Station along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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Fletcher Wimmer working on family farm. The Wimmers had large cabbage fields. Their farm bordered the Blue Ridge Parkway near the spur road to Bent Mountain.

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Will Wimmer, a farmer at Bent Mountain.

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Bent Mountain Hunting Club. The old club building was located on Callaway Road, off of Route 221 just past Blue Ridge Parkway overpass. Standing, L to R: Will Wimmer, C.F. Holt, Walter Overfelt, Dewey Holt, Doug Lancaster, ?, Woodrow Reed, Jake…

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Unidentified musicians entertain inside clubhouse of Bent Mountain Hunting Club.

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Bent Mountain Hunting Club cabin on Calloway Road, later burned and was replaced with a cinderblock building. Will Wimmer on far right.

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Bent Mountain Hunting Club members ready for a hunt, location unknown.

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Marshal Conner’s Bent Mountain Apple Shed produce stand along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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King Brothers’ saw mill, formerly located in the Bottom Creek area. The mill was powered by steam engine. Logs were hauled to the site by oxen and horses.

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Grisso-Gates School building, located on property of 5321 S. Roselawn Road in Cave Spring.

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Haystacks along Tinsley Lane.

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Vacation cabin at Laurel Ranch.

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Starkey School

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Dr. Joseph A. Gale, a physician at Cave Spring in 1880s.

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Dr. Joseph Gale’s office in Cave Spring.

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Dr. Joseph Gale’s home in Cave Spring, later owned by Dr. White.

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Former store of Clem and Mae Conner along Route 221.

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Omer Simpson (right) with son, Francis, cutting hay. Simpson's farm was located on Martins Creek Road.

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L to R: Nelson Simpson, Omer C. Simpson, Omer C. Simpson Jr., Francis Simpson and unidentified man stacking hay in field. Simpson farm was located on Martins Creek Road.

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Bent Mountain Hunting Club. Back row, L to R: Ruben Holt, Dewey Holt, Will Wimmer; Front row, L to R: Ralph Metz, Howard Nichols, Raymond Wimmer

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Mormon Church Group at Back Creek.

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L to R: Marvin, Jesse, and Betty Conner picking apples in Thompson orchard on Bent Mountain.

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B.G. Finnell & Sons store on Route 221, near foot of Bent Mountain.

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Finnell’s Pool on Route 221, near foot of Bent Mountain.

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B.G. Finnell, Sr. in front of his store.

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Belleview Primitive Baptist Church on Roselawn Road.

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Rierson's Store. This was the original store that stood where Back Creek Elementary School stands today on Route 221.

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Temporary Rierson's Store that was used after old store was razed and before new store was built.

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Rierson’s Store on Route 221.

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Maynard Rierson and family.

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Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Rierson 50th Wedding Anniversary photo.

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Aerial view of Roanoke Look Out Lodge Gift Shop along Route 221 at the top of Bent Mountain.

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Roanoke Look Out Gift Shop on Route 221 at the top of Bent Mountain.

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George M. Burris (right) on a hay wagon, Bent Mountain.

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Aerial view of Cave Spring High School and Cave Spring Baptist Church.

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Marvin Thompson (sitting on barrel) and Guy Conner in Woodrum Orchard.

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Poages Mill baseball team, #1, R.C. Wertz, #2 O.L. Grisso, #3 John Wertz, #4 Bill Grisso, #5 Ott Wertz, #6 Walt Henry, #7 E.B. Martin, #8 John Bowles, #9 R.C. Henry

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Bessie Beckner (left) and Essie Mae Beckner.

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Col. Holt’s store and house on Bent Mountain. Dr. Hurt’s car is parked in front.

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The Virginia Bridge and Iron Works began in 1888 as the American Bridge Works, changing its name in 1893. Other branch plants were located in Memphis, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Roanoke Branch was involved in hundreds of bridge projects…

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The Jefferson Apartments were built in 1912 on South Jefferson Street. The apartments existed for several decades before being razed in the late 1990s. The site of the apartment building was occupied by a house that was moved across Mountain Avenue…

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The Roanoke Times was the first daily paper in Roanoke, having been started by M.A. Claytor in 1886. In 1909, the Times was purchased by J. B. Fishburn, Edward L. Stone, and W.S. Battle and became the Roanoke Times, Incorporated. The Times…

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The Calvary Baptist Church on Campbell Avenue had as its early sanctuary this beautiful building which was located directly across the street from the present-day facility. Needing more space for the growing congregation and with the completion of…

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This interior view of the Martha Washington Candies store shows what the company considered its “Southern Factory.” Martha Washington Candies Roanoke franchise was started by W.G. Baldwin at 310 S. Jefferson Street in 1914. Mr. Baldwin was of the…

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Construction of Shenandoah Hospital commenced in 1912, opening the next year. The hospital was located on West Campbell Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets. Dr. J.H. Dunkley was president and assisted by Dr. Ira Huff, Dr. W.S. Slicer, Dr. J.T.…

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The top image is of the Central YMCA and the bottom image is of the Railroad Department YMCA. The Railroad YMCA opened on November 10, 1903. The Young Men’s Christian Association began in Roanoke in 1883.

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The postcard image shows what the vista would have looked like over a century ago atop the famous Mill Mountain Incline. In the bottom foreground is the back side of the old Roanoke Hospital, and in the top distant background one can see the former…

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This card shows how Jefferson Street had changed over the years. This view looks north down Jefferson Street from Mountain Avenue, showing a variety of commercial buildings, apartments and hotels.

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The Masonic Temple was located on the northwest corner of 1st and Kirk Street. In 1915, the street level was occupied by Reams, Jones and Blankenship furniture store. The store’s slogan was “Marry the girl – we’ll furnish the home.”

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J.H. Marsteller created ornate marble monuments and headstones. This card was produced for Marsteller in 1907, showing on the left the exhibit of Marsteller at the 1907 Jamestown Exhibition’s Timber and Mineral Building. The image on the right shows…

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Belmont Baptist Church was organized on October 17, 1901. They dedicated their second sanctuary in Southeast Roanoke in 1904. Belmont Baptist continues to worship in the sanctuary depicted on this card.

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A member used this card to celebrate her new church sanctuary: “Our new church cost $15,000, pipe organ $2,650, pews $1,100. Expect to dedicate third Sunday in April.” Unfortunately, the church was badly damaged by a fire in 1917, but recovered.

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The Belmont section of Roanoke, long-served by the Christian Church there, began as a 40-home development around 1889. The Belmont School opened in 1893 and soon followed street car service (1905), the city’s first automobile fire steamer (1911),…

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This card’s description reads, “One of the bedrooms of the Roanoke Sanitarium, Inc. – Institution for the treatment of Nervous and Mental Diseases, Drug and Alcohol Addictions.”

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The St. Charles Hospital was located at 533 Mountain Avenue. It opened in March of 1913 under the direction of Dr. J.C. Burke. The hospital closed in 1934, and the building was converted into apartments.

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The sender of this postcard wrote, “Will spend New Years Eve here, rained all day, having a good time. This motel is very comfortable. See you in San Francisco.” The Fort Lewis Tourist Courts was ½ mile west of Salem on Route 11.

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The Goodwin Motel’s postcard boasted “approved drinking water.” The motel was located west of Salem on Route 11, which served for many years as the modern-day equivalent of the interstate.

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This motor court was managed by H.R. Poole, who mailed this particular card to Joseph Lang of West Hempstead, NY, with the simple message, “You’re welcome in Virginia.” The establishment lured visitors by claiming “no truck or railroad noise.” Its…

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Windsor Court Motel was at 1908 W. Main Street, Salem. Effie Snead was the owner and, at the time the card was published, Charles Snead was the manager.

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Elva wrote to Albert Reinhold on the back of this card the following: “Received your postal from Washington, thank you so very much. Tell your dear mother that I will write to her tomorrow. This is a perfectly grand day to take a walk. Wish you…

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The history of Hollins University actually begins in New York with Joshua Bradley, a Baptist minister. Bradley purchased the property of the defunct Roanoke Female Seminary in 1842 for the purpose of forming an education union to “conduct an…

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The “new” bridge shown here was built in 1908, replacing an older one. The bridge was part of an extensive landscape plan developed for the campus at the time that consisted of gardens, boardwalks, bridges and recreational areas.

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Early in Hollins’ history, social life for the students was very structured and limited. For example, in 1925 students could receive “gentlemen callers” only on weekend nights and Sunday afternoons. Dates off campus required a chaperone and…

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The sulphur spring on the Hollins campus was discovered in the early 1800s in the bed of Carvins Creek. The message on this card boasted, “Its water has wonderful curative powers, and many prominent men, among them President Andrew Jackson and…

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When this postcard was sent, Hollins students were on a reinvigorated academic schedule that covered six days. Students could no longer attend for two years and get an “Academic Certificate.” They now must complete all four years. These academic…

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The Main Building is one of the oldest structures on the campus. The building was erected in between 1861 and 1863. The day the building was started was the same day Virginia seceded from the Union. With the onslaught of the Civil War,…

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The 1920s saw the emergence of student leadership in the affairs of the college. In 1920 a student forum was organized for the purpose of providing input on a variety of issues. One reoccurring issue was dress. Could students wear short skirts,…

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The West Building was totally rebuilt in 1890. The left wing contained the infirmary, doctor’s office and faculty living quarters, and the right wing contained two large halls for Hollins’ two early literary societies. The portico, completed in…

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The Little Theater was created largely through the spirited giving of Hollins students who, in the 1920s, raised $45,000 toward the total cost of $65,000 for the structure. The theater was built in 1924, replacing an old auditorium that was in the…

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Construction on East Building began in 1856 and was completed two years later. The East Building, complimenting Main and West, completed the quadrangle courtyard. According to early Hollins historians, East was designed to imitate in appearance the…

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Presser Hall was erected in 1925, a gift of Theodore Presser, music publisher. Presser was a music professor at Hollins from 1880 until 1883. Unfortunately, Presser died before the building was completed. At the time of its dedication, the…

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The Bradley Chapel was built in 1883 but not named until the 1930s for Joshua Bradley. The chapel served as the center for campus religious activities. During the early years, Hollins students were expected to attend chapel services daily after…

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The infirmary, constructed in 1910, was named for Susanna Cocke. Utilizing Georgian and Federal architecture, the infirmary was actually the first building included in part of new quadrangle on the southeast section of the campus.

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The Virginia Building of Catawba Sanatorium was constructed in 1913, four years after the Catawba Sanatorium opened. The original property for the sanatorium had been the Red Sulphur Springs.

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When Catawba Sanatorium opened in 1909, it consisted of 42 beds located primarily in the old hotel that served the sulphur springs resort area. The sanatorium would expand in both buildings and number of patients significantly over the next few…

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By 1937, Catawba Sanatorium was serving some 340 patients and the grounds totaled over 1100 acres, almost double the acreage contained in the original purchase. The many pavilions, such as the one above, were named for Virginia governors.

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Catawba Sanatorium became in many ways a self-sustaining community. For many years, the sanatorium operated its own dairy farm. The number of patients and employees were such that the area soon had its own post office, school, chapel, and other…

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Catawba Sanatorium developed its own nursing school to train healthcare professionals in the treatment of tuberculosis. Between 1912 and 1954, Catawba School of Nursing graduated 258 Certified Tuberculosis Nurses.

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This view of the women’s quarters shows the west end of the lean-to with lounging room in the center. Catawba ceased accepting tuberculosis patients on January 1, 1972. When it did, records indicated that some 25,000 tuberculosis patients had…

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Enon Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist churches in the Roanoke Valley. Built in 1855 across from the entrance of present-day Hollins University, the church was established by Charles Cocke, president of Hollins Institute.

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One of the most prominent geographical features in the Roanoke Valley is Twelve O’Clock Knob with an altitude of 2,707 feet. According to local tradition, the mountain received its name prior to the Civil War when slaves, working west of Salem,…

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Exactly what road this might be cannot be determined. Historic records, however, show that interest in building a road from Salem across Twelve O’Clock Knob to Back Creek and then up Bent Mountain dated back to 1840.

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The official arrival of the Norfolk and Western Railroad (later Railway) into the Roanoke Valley occurred on June 18, 1882, when an N&W locomotive steamed into the newly-named Town of Roanoke. With the coming of the railroad, the population and…

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This camp was originally constructed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941, it became an Army mechanical training camp. From 1943 until 1946, the camp housed 150 German POWs who worked in nearby orchards. Today, the camp is owned and…

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Vinton Roller Mills, along Glade Creek, grew out of mills originally built by David Gish that pre-dated the Civil War. By the Twentieth Century, the remaining mill was owned and operated by James Bowie and produced three kinds of flour. By 1924,…

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Vinton Baptist Church began in 1892. The building shown in this postcard rendering is one constructed in 1924, replacing the original sanctuary of 1894.

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The Vinton War Memorial is a tribute to the 29 men of Vinton who gave their lives in military service during World War II and Vietnam. The building, seen here, was dedicated in 1948 as a community center and remains such today.

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This fine residence belonged to prominent businessman, J.C. Cook originally of Bonsack. Cook later moved to the Vinton area and owned the land on which the Vinton War Memorial was built.

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This Methodist Church was an early sanctuary of the present-day Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church. The present sanctuary was built in 1963. The church was named for Paul and Sallie Thrasher, pioneer Methodists in the Roanoke Valley. The…

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The name “Hanging Rock” was given due to the rock formation’s appearance as projecting from the mountainside. In the area of Hanging Rock occurred one of only two Civil War engagements within the bounds of Roanoke County.

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Traveltown, located on Route 11 in Cloverdale, advertised “Every cottage heated with Private Bath.” In the mid-1920s, Route 11 became a link in the Washington-to-San Diego Lee Highway, making it a part of the transcontinental highway system.

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The vast majority of tourist homes, motor courts, motels and other tourist-related businesses dried up after the emergence of President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system. Small towns were bypassed, and routes, such as Route 11, were no longer…

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Camp Powhatan was located in the Natural Bridge National Forest Reserve. Scouting, having reached the States in 1910, has a long history in Roanoke County. The Blue Ridge Mountains Council, No. 599, is headquartered in Roanoke County, having merged…

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Lakeside was opened in 1920 by Robert Lynn, Sr., and featured a public swimming pool, roller coaster and one additional ride. The original 50-acre tract on which Lakeside was built was an orchard owned by John Bower.

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In 1936, Lakeside was purchased by H.L. Roberts, and his family owned and operated Lakeside for the next fifty years. When the amusement park opened it was described as “the largest pool anyone had ever seen,” complimented by a beach of imported…

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Lakeside survived the Depression by offering low admission prices and cheap entertainment. During World War II, the USO provided servicemen complimentary tickets. There was even a movement in 1958 by nearby residents to constitute themselves as the…

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Like most public venues in the South, Lakeside was not integrated until 1964. At about this same time, park owners closed the pool, filled it over, and the park expanded.

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This card shows how much the park had developed under the ownership of the Roberts family. This card advertises, “South’s Finest Swimming Pool, Joy Rides for Children and Adults, Beautiful Picnic Grounds.”

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Lakeside was for many decades the most popular draw for Valley residents and tourists in the region. Offering rides, amusements, recreation, and concerts, Lakeside was complimented by Dixie Caverns, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and being at the…

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Aunt Katherine wrote her nephew in Salisbury, Maryland, using this card, the following: “How would you like to go in bathing here? Uncle Frank and the boys are in now. It is fresh water. They have slides and swings and acting bars and every kind…

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Lakeside survived for over six decades, but the competition brought on by other more major theme parks took its toll. By 1983, the park was in financial trouble. Bought by Charles Fox in 1984, the park was struck by the Flood of 1985. The flood…

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This century-old view of Salem showed the development of the town since its inception in 1802 by James Simpson when he created 40 lots on 16 acres. The lots fronted one main road which Simpson named “Roanoke Street.” The lots were two sizes,…

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This early street scene illustrates the stately residential developments that marked Salem’s development at the turn of the last century.

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Water Street, later South Broad Street, was one of the earliest streets laid out in the 1802 plot of Salem. Water Street became the dominant center for Salem’s African-American community.

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Dirt streets and horse carriages marked town living one hundred years ago. In the foreground, one can see the outline of a crosswalk, probably brick, that allowed pedestrians to maneuver across streets avoiding ankle-deep mud that often plagued…

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Prominent on the left is a sign for W.B. Dillard Drug Co., Prescription Druggists, Soda and Mineral Waters. Watts Dillard was a prominent Salem business man involved in numerous civic projects. His drugstore, at the corner of Main and College, got…

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On the back of this postcard was written the following message: “Dear Mama – Does this look like home? Not much, I guess you would like it down here because people are so easy going and don’t believe in working all the time…” Home, by the way, was…

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After much discussion, Salem’s city fathers agreed to a streetcar route on Main Street (the tracks can be seen in this card) in 1894. The system served Salem and connected riders to the Roanoke line that crossed over Masons Creek. The streetcars…

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Salem’s first major population and economic boom occurred between 1880 and 1890 with the development of the railroad. The population during that decade nearly doubled. The Roanoke Collegian reported in 1891, “Building continues, High Street is…

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Good streets have always been one of the basic services provided by any municipality to its citizens. In 1909, a Salem newspaper headline read, “Good Streets Coming.” The editor was congratulating Salem leaders for applying crushed limestone to the…
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