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 (87 total)

RNC 39 N&W Freight Station.jpg
Lots for sale in front of the Norfolk & Western freight station on Norfolk Avenue.

Davis 11.35 Hurt Park Elementary School.jpg
Hurt Park Elementary School, located at 1525 Salem Avenue.

Davis 11.351 Hurt Park Elementary.jpg
Hurt Park Elementary, located at 1525 Salem Avenue.

Davis 2.16 Salem Ave.jpg
A view of Salem Avenue at 2nd Street.

Davis 2.162 Salem Avenue.jpg
Looking east on Salem Avenue from Henry Street (now 1st). This row of storefronts included a bowling alley; liquor store,;L.A. Tolbert Cleaning, Pressing and Repairing; Brady's Bar and Restaurant; a barbershop and a pool hall.

Davis 2.31 Roanoke Supply.jpg
Unidentified group of Shriners standing on sidewalk in front of Roanoke Supply Company store, located at 101 W. Salem Avenue.

Davis 42.1 Davis Photo Company.jpg
Davis Photo Company at 104 W. Salem Avenue. George Davis stands behind car on right with arm on window frame. Other men unidentified.

Davis 42.53 Academy of Music.jpg
Interior of the Academy of Music. Built in 1892 on Salem Avenue near 5th Street, the Academy fell into disuse after World War II. It was demolished in 1953.

Davis 42.531 Academy of Music.jpg
The Academy of Music was located in the 400 block of West Salem Avenue. The Academy opened 7 October 1892. After World War II, it fell into disuse and was razed in 1953.

Davis 42.532 Academy of Music.jpg
Looking West on Salem Avenue at the Academy of Music. Built in 1892, the Academy fell into disuse after World War II. It was razed in 1953.

Davis 43.3509 Liberty Trust Building.jpg
Built in 1910 as First National Bank, the Liberty Trust Building stands at 101 Jefferson Street.

Davis 44.12 ML Curley Confectionary.jpg
ML Curley Confectionery, formerly located at 23 Salem Avenue SE.

Davis 44.621a Graybar Electric Employees.jpg
Employees of Graybar Electric Company, located at 1125 Salem Avenue.

Davis 44.621b Graybar Electric.jpg
Graybar Electric Company, located at 1125 Salem Avenue.

Davis 44.621c Graybar Electric.jpg
Sales counter at Graybar Electric Company, located at 1125 Salem Avenue.

Davis 47.1 McKesson & Robbins.jpg
McKesson & Robbins Wholesale Druggist, formerly located at 365 Salem Avenue.

Davis 47.11 McKesson & Robbins.jpg
McKesson & Robbins Wholesale Druggist, formerly located at 365 Salem Avenue.

Davis 48.11 Garst Brothers Dairy.jpg
Garst Brothers Dairy, formerly located at 1118 Salem Avenue.

Davis 48.13 Garst Brothers Dairy.jpg
Right side view of Garst Brothers Dairy with trucks lining the building

Davis 48.32 Columbia Chemical Corp.jpg
Columbia Chemical Corporation delivery truck. Columbia Chemical was a soft drink manufacturer with a product called 3-C Nectar, marketed as "the drink of the gods".

Davis 48.5 Salem Saloon.jpg
Interior of an indentified saloon on Salem Avenue.

Davis 56.823 Salvation Army Baseball Team.jpg
Salvation Army Baseball Team in front of the Salvation Army building, located at 821 Salem Avenue. Team members unidentified.

Davis 65.93 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy and Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. Philip Levy was located at 118 Salem Avenue.

Davis 65.931 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Despite the efforts of Roanoke firemen, the Philip Levy Exchange store could not be saved. After burning for two hours, the building collapsed.

Davis 65.932 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Despite the efforts of Roanoke firemen, the Philip Levy Exchange store could not be saved. After burning for two hours, the building collapsed.

Davis 65.933 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Even after the building's collapse, firemen continue to hose down the smoldering rubble that was once the Philip Levy Exchange Store.

Davis 65.934 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy and Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. Philip Levy was located at 118 Salem Avenue. Both city ladder trucks were utilized in an attempt to extinguish the fire, which was burning on the top…

Davis 65.935 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Firemen attempt to extinguish the fire at the Philip Levy Exchange Store at 118 Salem Avenue.

Davis 65.936 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Ladder trucks 1 and 2 were utilized to fight the fire at the Philip Levy Exchange Store, which was burning on the top floors of the four story building.

Davis 65.937 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
Despite the efforts of Roanoke firemen, the Philip Levy Exchange store could not be saved. After burning for two hours, the building collapsed.

Davis 65.938 Philip Levy Store Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Store alarm was struck at 1:21pm on 31 August 1928. This photo was taken not long after the fire started. Both city ladder trucks were on the scene to combat the fire in the top floors of the four story building.

Davis 65.941 Norfolk and Western Office Fire.jpg
A fire broke out at the Norfolk & Western General Offices on 4 January 1896. N&W employees salvaged some furnishings and supplies as fire swept through the building. Unfortunately, the building was a total loss.

CPC 12 Graybar Electric.jpg
Storefront of Graybar Electric Company, formerly located at 603 Salem Avenue.

CPC 9a Phillip Levy Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. The first fire occurred the previous year and only caused minor damage. This fire would prove more disastrous. Philip Levy Exchange Company was…

CPC 9b Phillip Levy Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. The first fire occurred the previous year and only caused minor damage. This fire would prove more disastrous. Philip Levy Exchange Company was…

CPC 9c Phillip Levy Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. The first fire occurred the previous year and only caused minor damage. This fire would prove more disastrous. Philip Levy Exchange Company was…

CPC 9d Phillip Levy Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. The first fire occurred the previous year and only caused minor damage. This fire would prove more disastrous. Philip Levy Exchange Company was…

CPC 9e Phillip Levy Fire.jpg
The Philip Levy Exchange Company furniture store caught fire for the second time on 31 August 1928. The first fire occurred the previous year and only caused minor damage. This fire would prove more disastrous. Philip Levy Exchange Company was…

UC 53 Kroger Bakery.jpg
Kroger Bakery, formerly located at 541 Salem Avenue.

UC 56 Kroger Bakery.jpg
Kroger Bakery, formerly located at 541 Salem Avenue.

Davis GL 108 Salem Avenue.jpg
Vacant store fronts in the 100 block of Salem Avenue.

Davis GL 20 Salem Avenue.tif
View of Salem Avenue east from Second Street, SW. Buildings lines street with painted advertisements.

Davis GL 37 Dog Mouth Fountain.jpg
Sketch of the Dog Mouth Fountain. The fountain was acquired by the city in 1898. It stands at the corner of Salem Avenue and Market Street.

Davis GL 41 Ponce De Leon Hotel.jpg
View of the rear of the Hotel Ponce De Leon, with the remainder of a building's foundation visible in foreground.

Davis GL 55 Downtown Construction.jpg
View of men working on construction downtown. Totz Department Store can be seen in the background. Totz was located at 117-119 Salem Avenue SW.

Davis GL 64 Salem Avenue.jpg
Approximately 132 Salem Avenue.

Davis GL 79 Jamison Bakery.jpg
Jamison Company Bakery, formerly located at 541 Salem Avenue.

MP 4.4 Jefferson Street.jpg
Looking west on Salem Avenue toward the intersection with Jefferson Street.

Davis2 48.14 Garst Brothers Dairy.jpg
Garst Brothers Dairy, formerly located at 1118 Salem Avenue SW.

MP 4.44 Salem Avenue.jpg
Looking west from the 100 block of Salem Avenue SE. A horse takes a drink from the Dog's Mouth Fountain, visible at right.

MP 4.43 Salem Avenue.jpg
Looking west at saloons along Salem Avenue. The Silver Moon Quick Lunch, Raleigh Cafe and Brady's were located at approximately 20 Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 47.43 Loebl Dye Works.jpg
Loebl Dye Works, formerly located at 348 Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 47.431 Loebl Dye Works.jpg
Wet cleaning department at Loebl Dye Works. Men from left are: William Staples, Robert Loebl, Walter Morgenthau and unknown.

Davis 44.4 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at the corner of 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.41 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at the corner of 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.43 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.45 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.47 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.48 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.49 RT Construction.jpg
Construction of the Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW.

Davis 44.412 RT Building.jpg
The Roanoke Times & World News building located at 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW. Although it has gone through changes over the years, the building is still used by the Times.

Davis 16.9 Shenandoah Hotel.jpg
The Shenandoah Hotel opened on 5 November 1909. Originally consisting of two buildings, separated by an 8-foot alley, the Salem Avenue facing building seen here would later become the Hotel Lee followed by the Hotel Earle. The building was destroyed…

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.

Davis 45.237 Sunlight Bakery .jpg
The Roanoke Sunlight Bakery was located at 501 Salem Avenue. The building was also used by Kroger Bakery. It is now used as a warehouse.

LDW1 Loebl, Josef.jpg
Josef Loebl stands next to a Vorclone drying tumbler in Loebl Dye Works, formerly located at 350 Salem Avenue.

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.

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.

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.

BM282.jpg
Hubert Harris on Salem Avenue in Downtown Roanoke.

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

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

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

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…

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.

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

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

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

RVNH40200.jpg
Garst Brothers Dairy, formerly located at 14 W. Salem Avenue.

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