Charles Harris at his home on Westover Avenue SW.
The Roanoke Valley in the 1940s
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Starkey Baseball Team. Front row, left to right: Randolf Reed, Joe Starkey, Edgar Musgrove, A.R. Meador, Jr., Edward Burris; Back row, left to right: John Slovensky, Minnix, Earnest Arthur, Junior Haislip, Clifton Meador, and David Mitchell. Bat boy on right is Dicky Meador.
Firemen at Fire Station No. 1. Left to right: Earl Hawkins, Charles Nolley, James Nichols, William Barker, Edward Barker, Ernest Buford, Daniel Sink, Leonard Black, Maynard Peters, Eslie Knowles, and Earnest Ferguson.
Fireman drafted into military service at Fire Station No. 1.
Lester Kelly in Engine 10, a 1940 Dodge fire truck at the Williamson Road Station. The Williamson Road Station was annexed into the city on 1 January 1949
Roy Hall and his band with Roy Rogers. Left to right: Wayne Watson, Tommy Magness, Roy Hall, Roy Rogers, Woody Mashburn, Bill Brown, and Clayton Hall.
Roy Kinsey, Jr., John Payne, and Bob Kinsey on the day the Mill Mountain Star was lit.
The congregation of Mt. Zion AME Church.
Woodrum Field with the Cannaday home and control tower.
Congressman Clifton Woodrum, Sr. stands in front of his Fairchild 24. Woodrum soloed in 1942
Class of Navy aviation cadets in front of a C-47 at Woodrum Field.
The Cannaday home with the control tower on top.
The first "control tower" at Woodrum Field, an 8-foot square shed built on top of the Cannaday home, could be accessed by going onto the roof.
Norfolk & Western Band in new uniforms. Kneeling at left is the director, L. Christensen.
N&W Magazine
Captain Julian S. Wise, with some equipment used by the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew, gives a presentation to a civic group at the Hotel Roanoke.
Roanoke Black Cardinals semi-pro baseball team. Front row, left to right: Palmer, Rice, Jones (manager), Dawson, Perry, Boyd; Back row, left to right: G. Brown, Craighead, C. Brown, and Williams.
James Pullen (center, in conductor's cap) assists Norfolk & Western Passenger Station employees with removal of a war veteran's remains from the baggage car of Train No. 23.
Colored Division of the Norfolk & Western Veterans Association meeting in front of the Virginia Theatre.
Marble shooter Larry Vinson with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl O. Vinson.
Roanoke All-Stars semi-pro baseball team. Front row, left to right: S. Robinson, M. Williams, R.F. Rice, Babe Easley, G. Hampton, H. Petey, Edward Jones, manager; Back row, left to right: Scrappy Brown, F. Boyd, G. Brown, R.R. McAsee, R. Wood, and P.R. Dawson.
Lt. E.H. St. Clair of Roanoke is shown in the cockpit of his flying fortress, "The Roanoke Magician", in England. He was a veteran of over 30 combat attacks and a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Norfolk & Western Freight Car Department employees line up to submit their membership applications to Edith Davis of Blue Cross. Note that health insurance premiums were five cents per day.
Norfolk & Western Shops wheel rollers put on an exhibition at the Virginia Press Association convention for cameras from MGM, Paramount, Fox Movietone News, and the Roanoke Times. Participants were John Canty, Pleas Casey, Charles Wiley, and Thomas Campbell.
Class J-1 Engine No. 605 rolls out of the Norfolk & Western Shops. War rationing meant no streamlined cowling or roller bearings on the rods.
Radio production for Norfolk & Western broadcast heard on WSLS and other radio stations served by N&W. Left to right: J.L. Ramsey, material inspector; Ed Skotch, WSLS production manager; Tom Slater, WSLS announcer; Phillip Briggs, WSLS engineer.
Norfolk & Western Male Chorus singing, "I've Been Working on the Railroad", for a system-wide radio broadcast.
US Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. speaks at a speakers platform at the Roanoke Auditorium.
Norfolk & Western Shops Noon-Day Chorus. The group rehearsed and sang each day at lunchtime.
W.C. Driscoll demonstrates his patented new outdoor bowling game, Sok-A-Blok. The game was manufactured by Whitescarver and Dyal and sold in local hardware stores.
The USO Lounge at the Norfolk & Western Passenger Station formally opened on 13 May 1942.
The Norfolk & Western Machine Shop balcony served as a platform for speakers and musicians during a war savings bond rally that observed an 88% participation rate by N&W employees.
Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hu Shih, shakes hands with Virginia Chamber of Commerce president J.S. Easley as George Dunglinson looks on.
Norfolk & Western Railway Veterans Association 10th Annual Meeting at the Roanoke Auditorium opens with "Stand By America", led vocally by Mrs. Ruth Thomas.
Choirs of Bethel AME Church and Starkey Church.
Jack Dempsey aboard the Pocahontas after refereeing a wrestling match at the Roanoke Auditorium. Dempsey was boxing heavyweight champ from 1919-1926.
Singer and actress Jeanette MacDonald arriving in Roanoke by train.
An aerial view looking east on the Norfolk & Western Shops.
Norfolk & Western members of the 23rd Battalion, US Marine Corps Reserve, 116th Infantry.
Members of the Roanoke Gun Club on opening day. J.J. Barry was president.
The Robertson Singers of Roanoke. Seated, left to right: J.H. Robertson, Mrs. J.H. Robertson; standing, left to right: J.W. Harris, Charles Wiley, and V. Guerrant.
The Detective Division of Roanoke City Police Department gives an interview to WSLS, WDBJ, and WROV radio stations in connection with the Dana Marie Weaver murder investigation.
Birds-eye view of Reserve Avenue with Victory Stadium on left. Virginian Railway operations at right.
Looking north on Franklin Road from the intersection with Elm Avenue SW.
Intersection of Franklin Road and Marshall Avenue SW.
A snowy birds-eye view of the Henry Street bridge.
The second Lucy Addison High School (now Lucy Addison Middle School) under construction.
Looking north on 6th Street near Marshall Avenue SW.
Unidentified employees of an Esso Station.
W.P. Hunter Memorial at Hunter Viaduct. The inscription reads, "Hunter Memorial Bridge in grateful memorial of William Pearce Hunter; May 29, 1884 - March 13, 1956; first city manager, October 1, 1918 - December 31, 1947; member City Council, 1948-1952; Mayor, 1948-1949; His life was dedicated to good government and the welfare of Roanoke. As a pioneer in the field of city management, he adapted a new system and made it work. His faithful service has left an imperishable mark on the City's well-being and is engraved in the hearts of its people."
Looking east on Tazewell Avenue near the intersection with 8th Street SE.
Looking west on Fleming Avenue from the intersection of Winsloe Avenue NE.
Monroe Junior High School, formerly located at 1122 19th Street NW.
Soldiers march in a parade on Campbell Avenue at 3rd Street SW.
Intersection of 2nd Street and Salem Avenue SW. M.J. Patsel Druggists visible at right.
Rish Equipment Company, formerly located at 405 Centre Avenue, NW.
Gilmer Avenue NW. Reliable Service Grocers visible at left.
Close-up of the Mill Mountain Star shortly after completion.
Looking west on Church Avenue near the Jefferson Street intersection.
Roanoke City Police Department, 3rd Platoon.
Roanoke City Police Department on the steps of the municipal building.
Eddie Bennett stands beside his father's (Joseph Bennett) brand new 1949 Mercury. Photo was taken at the family home on 30th Street, NW.
Aerial view of Victory Stadium during a Jefferson High School football game.
Jefferson High School versus William Byrd High School in football.
Coronation of first annual Snow Queen (Joanne Friend) at Jefferson High School during Christmas Dance.
William Fleming High School. This building would later become Breckinridge Middle School.
The "Young Roanoke Sings" Chorus was heard weekly on WSLS Radio.
Viaud School was founded by Madame Viaud in 1926. The school was located at 105 Mountain Avenue SW when this photo was taken.
Olympian Jesse Owens signs autographs at Carver School in Salem.
The "funeral procession" for "Johnny Non-Voter" on Jefferson Street in route to the municipal building. The funeral was a promotion by the Roanoke Junior Chamber of Commerce as a means to get Roanokers to vote in the Democratic primaries for Congress.
The Blue Ridge Entertainers played regularly on local radio and played in the studio the day WROV went on the air. There was another group by the same name and this group was the "second unit". Back row, left to right: Rufus Hall, Hank Angle, Jay H. Hall; Front row, left to right: Steve Ledford, Bill Brown, and Carl Decker.
Home of William S. and Daisy Schley, located at 203 Gilmer Avenue NW.
Military airplane at Woodrum Field. Left to right: Lawrence Hall, Buddy Wingfield, and Raymond Hall.
Dr. Harry T. Penn. In addition to practicing dentistry, Dr. Penn was the first African American school board member for the City of Roanoke and a prominent civic and civil rights leader.
First chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Salem.
Ruins of Fort Lewis mansion after it was destroyed by fire on 25 July 1949.
Corner of Grandin Road and Brandon Avenue which would become the site of Christ Lutheran Church.
Laying of cornerstone for Christ Lutheran Church.
Construction of Christ Lutheran Church at the corner of Grandin Road and Brandon Avenue.
Members inside Virginia Heights Lutheran Church, formerly located at what is now 1320 Grandin Road.
Virginia Heights Lutheran Church, formerly located at what is now 1320 Grandin Road.
Tinnell's Grocery, formerly located on Crystal Spring Avenue in South Roanoke.
Children collection scrap metal in their neighborhood in order to assist with the war efforts for World War II.
Postcard depicting High Street Baptist Church.
Virginian Railway Engine No. 127 in Roanoke.
Looking north on S. Jefferson Street. Patrick Henry Hotel visible at left; Elmwood Diner visible at right.
Tommy Magness and the Orange Blossom Boys was a popular Roanoke radio and dance band. Left to right: Slim Idaho, Warren Poindexter, Tommy Magness, Dexter Mills, Clayton Hall, and Saford Hall.
"Cousin" Irv Sharp in the studio of WDBJ Radio.
WSLS TV filming a show inside Ewald-Clark store.
Grand opening of Ewald-Clark in Downtown Roanoke, formerly located at 17 Church Avenue.
First chapel of Virginia Heights Baptist Church (left), construction on second church (middle), and parsonage (right).
First chapel and parsonage for Virginia Heights Baptist Church on Memorial Avenue.
Mary Alice Nelson demonstrating the new after-hours deposit box at the Appalachian Power Company building front entrance.
Customers at the Coffee Pot on Brambleton Avenue. Bob Nelson (front left) and Dick Nelson (back left) are pictured. All others unidentified.
Little River Baptist Church, located on Route 221 in Floyd County.
Tom's Service Station, formerly located on the corner of Henry Street and Wells Avenue.
M.J. Patsel Druggists, formerly located at 202 2nd Street SW.
Hollins Inn Restaurant and Tourist Court, formerly located 5 miles north of Roanoke on Route 11.
Looking east on Campbell Avenue from intersection with Jefferson Street.
Postcard for Moonlight Tourist Camp, formerly located 2 miles south of Roanoke on Route 220.
A postcard for Silver Gable Tourist Court, formerly located on Route 11.
Postcard of the Blue Jay Restaurant and Motel, formerly located on Route 11, 6 miles west of Salem.
Archie’s Lobster House, formerly located at Williamson Road and Peters Creek Road, was Roanoke’s first seafood restaurant when it opened in 1947. Until 1978, it was operated by Archie Parrish. It was razed in 1981.
Postcard of Friendly Guest House, formerly located at 2606 Williamson Road. It was owned and operated by Blanche Myers and Addie Taylor.
Lucy Addison High School opened in 1928. Located at 40 Douglass Avenue NW, the building now houses Roanoke City Public Schools Administrative Offices.
The Plaza Restaurant, formerly located at 3011 Williamson Road.
Plaza Tourist Court, formerly located at 3011 Williamson Road.
Garst Brothers Dairy, formerly located at 14 W. Salem Avenue.
A balloon float in the Roanoke Christmas parade.
Jack Dempsey refereeing a wrestling match at Roanoke Auditorium.
A truck customized by A.L. Nelson Truck Company for United Cooperage of Virginia.
A Tucker 48 car is displayed in Downtown Roanoke in front of Smartwear-Irving Saks.
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.
Employees of A.L. Nelson Company stand in front of a Tucker 48. Third from right: Mary Nelson (moving left) Richard Nelson, Dorothy Nelson, Mary Alice Nelson, and Bob Nelson. All others unidentified.
A.L. Nelson Truck Company on Shenandoah Avenue.
Pyrofax gas truck in front on A.L. Nelson Truck Company on Shenandoah Avenue.
Tucker 48 Car #15 in A.L. Nelson Company showroom on Shenandoah Avenue.
Councilman Richard Edwards removes cover from a Tucker 48 car at A.L. Nelson Company. Far right to left: Bob Nelson, Dorothy Nelson, and Richard Nelson.
Ralph Koiner Baker (left) and Joe Hunter in France.
Sea Scout Ship 50 annual banquet attendees at Longwood Community Center.
Boys on lawn at Andrew Lewis High School. Left to right: ? Young, Hunter Miller, David Minichan, Brewster Robertson, unidentified, George St. John.
Intersection of College Avenue and Fourth Street in front of Andrew Lewis High School.
Mary H. Brand and an unidentified student on the lawn of Andrew Lewis High School.
A Jeep, driven by David McClung, II is nearly driven in to Andrew Lewis High School.
Car 52 on Grandin Road near Westover Avenue, SW.
A streetcar coming from American Viscose turns left onto Jamison Avenue from 9th Street, SE, en route to West End.
Motorman Homer Turner poses with Car 45 under the Walnut Avenue Bridge. Car 45 served the Belmont/9th Street/West End line.
Interior of Jennings-Shepherd, formerly located at 411 1st Street, SW.
The Aristocrats were a popular local dance band. Seen here in the Morocco Club on Henry Street, they are, left to right: Ed Wright, Audrey Pitman, Shelton Ramey, Bill Harper, Raphael Jackson, James Morris, St. Paul Thomas, John J. Locklayer. Standing in the middle is promoter Chris Morris.
Dr. Harry T. Penn, dentist, in his office on Henry Street.
Interior view of Community Drug Store on Henry Street. Dr. Beverly Adams was the pharmacist.
The Community Drug Store, formerly located on the corner of Henry Street and Centre Avenue NW.
View of a flooded S. Jefferson Street. The Roanoke River crested at 21.6 feet in 1940. Roanoke City Mills is visible on left.
Photo postcard of Smartwear-Irving Saks to promote opening of remodeled store.
Reverend William J. Simmons at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Famous aviator, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (left foreground), who was president of Eastern Airlines, came to Roanoke for Eastern's inaugural flight to Woodrum Field. He was greeted by business leaders and others.
A class of Navy pilot cadets pose in front of a Douglas C-47 at Woodrum Field. Ground school was conducted at Roanoke College.
Frantz Flying Service opened in 1948 at Woodrum Field. It was owned by T.E. "Boots" Frantz (right); Wes Hillman (left) was an employee.
Aerial view of Woodrum Field showing A-configuration of runways.
Aerial view of Woodrum Field taken during its dedication weekend. The photographer was Lambert Martin of the Roanoke World-News.
Runway construction at Woodrum Field. The airfield was expanded when it became classified as a national defense project.
A Douglas C-47 takes off from Woodrum Field.
Woodrum Field's first crash truck was a 1939 Cadillac that was modified at the city's garage..
A Sikorsky helicopter hovers as spectators look on at Woodrum Field.
Looking toward Tinker Mountain from Woodrum Field.
A close-up view of the Civil Aviation Authority control tower on top of the Cannaday farmhouse.
A Civil Aviation Authority control tower on top of the Cannaday farmhouse at Woodrum Field.
A Mason-Dixon Airlines passenger plane at Woodrum Field.
Yellow Cab began offering limousine service on 20 July 1947, under contract with American and Eastern Airlines. Seen next to this Desoto limousine at Woodrum Field at Mae Williams (left) and Margaret Franklin (right).
Hillcrest Hall was one of the dormitories for American Viscose employees.
An unidentified woman in the reeling room at American Viscose.
An unidentified man in the reeling room at American Viscose.
An unidentified woman works with strands of silk at American Viscose.
Forbes-Hodges family reunion in Wirtz, Virginia.
Wanderers of the Wasteland musical group. Left to right: Roy Lemmon, Bob Pauley, Glenwood Howell, and Woody "Lucky" Mashburn.
A section of the Southeast neighborhood. Jamison School visible in the background.
As indicated by the caption, "a Southeast kiddie pool in the back yard with chickens" The child is Roy Minnix.
A group of young men at home located at 926 (later 1100 block) 14th Street SE. Roy Minnix is in the back row, second from right.
The Jackson Park Sandlot Football Team. Coach Sam Elliott on far right in back row.
A large crowd gathers to view the damage after a fireworks explosion at the Junior Grocery on Franklin Road.
A fireworks explosion leveled the Junior Grocery located at 205 Franklin Road SW. Five people were injured in the explosion.