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.

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The architectural drawing gracing this card was done by G.R. Ragan. The new high school, built on Broad Street, opened in 1912, relieving the overcrowded Academy Street school. Additions followed in 1920 and 1923, but the school was heavily damaged…

What is now known as the Academy Street School served Salem’s students for many years. The building on the right was constructed in 1890 with an addition (left) coming in 1895. The original portion served the lower grades and the addition became…

Tuberculosis sanatoriums were numerous in the first half of the last century. By the late 1960s, tuberculosis was controllable and facilities, such as Mount Regis, were converted to other uses usually health related.

Mount Regis was built on Development Hill in South Salem. Mount Regis closed its doors as a sanitorium in 1939. The building was then taken over by the Youth Administration to provide housing for nurses aids in hospitals. After World War II, the…

In 1952, residents of South Salem started a petition drive to incorporate a new town, Mount Regis. This was countered by residents desiring annexation into Salem. With some legal maneuverings and posturing, the “Mount Regis” citizens settled down,…

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The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected in 1927 a monument marking the location of Fort Lewis which had been built by General Andrew Lewis.

The Victorian mansion, known as “Longwood,” was built by Thomas Henry Cooper around 1904. Unfortunately, this majestic structure was destroyed by fire on November 19, 1968.

This hotel stood on Main Street and was erected by W.D.F. Duval in 1871. It contained 40 to 50 rooms with bath tubs and running water. For a few years, the hotel was owned by the Chapman family and renamed the Lucerne.

For many years, Salem had also benefited from passenger service provided by the Virginian Railroad. Virginian passenger service in Salem ended in 1954, five years prior to its merger with the N&W.

Passenger service at the Salem depot ended on April 30, 1965. On that day, YWCA kindergartners boarded the Powhatan Arrow for a trip to Christiansburg. That same year, the N&W donated the station to the town of Salem.

The N&W Railway donated and created a park near the passenger station in 1933 at College Avenue and 8th Street. The park was one of several that were developed in Salem during that time period.

The passenger station hosted a prominent visitor on October 19, 1934, when President Franklin Roosevelt came to dedicate the new Veterans’ Hospital. After the ceremony, the President came to Salem where he was escorted by Salem’s mayor and a cadre…

The impressive home of Salem lawyer Demetrius B. Strouse on Broad Street was built around the turn of the last century. Strouse was involved in numerous civic and religious projects in the Roanoke Valley.

The Ridgewood farm land is today a developed retail corridor, known as the Ridgewood Village Center. The center opened in 1985 with a variety of stores and restaurants. The home, shown here, remains.

Monterey was the pre-Civil War home of the Chapman family. In later years, the home at the corner of High and Clay served as a hotel, hosting visitors by providing a truly residential flavor.

James C. Langhorne was prominent in the formation of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, helped develop Lake Spring Park, served on the Salem Town Council, and operated several business enterprises.

The Roanoke County Women’s Club was formed on June 7, 1923, by 28 women. In May of 1929, the club formally dedicated their clubhouse. On year later, the Junior Club added a wing to the main clubhouse and started a library. This effort laid the…

The Lutheran Orphanage sold much of its land holdings in the 1960s to Salem for the purpose of erecting what is now the Salem Civic Center. The buildings were sold in 1985 to Roanoke College.

The Lutheran Orphanage arrived in Salem in May of 1896, occupying a brick home on five acres at the corner of present-day Florida Avenue and Boulevard. The orphanage eventually bought the former Hotel Salem on College Avenue (shown here), which it…

Life at the orphanage often paralleled the events within Salem. Some of those were not positive. In 1918, a severe outbreak of the Spanish flu closed Salem’s schools, churches, and businesses for over a month. Sixty children at the Baptist…

The residence for the superintendent was constructed within the first decade of the orphanage’s operation. The residence allowed the superintendent to not only live on the campus but to host visitors and families.

This second cottage to be built for the orphanage was named for the institution’s first superintendent, the Reverend George J. Hobday, who served from 1891 until 1906.

The original 16 acres on which the orphanage sat was donated by businessman John M. Evans. The very first cottage to be built, which was completed on July 1, 1892, was named for the philanthropist.

By 1905, the Baptist Orphanage, which was just a decade old, was caring for 165 orphans. Some were placed in the institution’s care due to loss of parents, while others came to live because their families were impoverished. All needs of the…

The hill-top Baptist Orphanage prided itself on being self-sustaining in its early years. A generous donation of an additional 87 acres in 1897 allowed the orphanage to even operate a full-scale farm and dairy herd.

The cornerstone on the Administration Building was laid on July 4, 1901, becoming occupied in 1902. It’s red-brick castle-like structure was an imposing piece of architecture on the campus. The Administration Building was razed in 1965.

Before the advent of modern medicine, quarantine was often the best strategy to avoid the spread of disease. Salem, like all communities, had to impose its fair share of them. In 1905, the Baptist Orphanage was quarantined for two weeks due to an…

As a measure of Salem’s hospitality, many of the local churches, regardless of denomination, became involved with both the Baptist and Lutheran orphanages. In fact, Roanoke College offered free tuition to qualified students from both orphanages.

The Baptist Orphanage often brought visiting Baptists from around the state to Salem, who, according to the early Salem newspapers, would bring the children into town for entertainment and recreation.

Judge William Moffett convened the first session of Circuit Court in the new court room on April 1, 1910, and dedicated the day “for the hearing of matters and reading of papers of local historical interest.”

This photo postcard shows the old county courthouse. The structure was built in 1841 on a lot purchased by Roanoke County from John Gray of Missouri for $400. The courthouse was constructed by Salem hotelier William C. Williams. During the Civil…

Business leaders in Salem and Roanoke sought to promote their respective communities through a variety of promotional pamphlets. Scenes, such as the one above, were often included to demonstrate progress and prosperity. Salem was labeled as the…

For a few years, Salem’s residential streets were segregated. In 1913, Salem created racially segregated residential districts which were permitted by state law. District No. 1 (centered around Water Street) was for blacks, and District No. 2 was…

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…

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…

Main Street has become the setting for one of Salem’s most successful civic and commercial events – Olde Salem Days. The event began in 1981 with an estimated 12,000 visitors. By 1985, under the sponsorship of the Jaycees, “Days” drew some 40,000…

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…

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…

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…

W.G. Ronk took the picture that produced this card of turn-of-the-century Main Street, which James Simpson originally called Roanoke Street. The street was only a few blocks long when first developed, running from present-day Colorado Street to…

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…

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.

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

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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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…

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…

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…

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.”

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.

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…

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…

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.

This card reads, “From the crest of McAfee’s Knob, near Salem, at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and commanding a view of entrancing beauty. ‘Point of Rocks’ projects over the Valley far below. With nearly 2,000 feet of space beneath him, the visitor…

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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

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,…

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…

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…

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.

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,…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

This is a guide to the A. B. Claytor Collection. The collection contains items related to the Alexander Broadon Claytor and his family. While the majority of the collection is comprised of family photographs, also included are funeral programs, a…

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…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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),…

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.

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.

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…

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.”

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.

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…

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.

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This is a guide to the Heller Family Collection. The collection contains items related to members of the Heller family, including: Moorman Pendleton Heller; his wife, Lucy Blanch Robinson Heller; and their son, George Henry Robinson Heller. The…

The Vertical Files and Surname Files Index is an alphabetical list of over 250 topical files. Vertical files may include pamphlets, news clippings and other materials that do not merit a call number, but are arranged for ready reference on a given…

Vendor stalls inside the Market Building.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls inside the Market Building.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

Vendor stalls along Market Street on the City Market.

Looking east on Salem Avenue near Wall Street intersection.

Looking north on Market Street toward the Market Building.

An interior view of the Market Building.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

Interior of Market Building after removal of vendor stalls for renovation.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls along Market Square.

A view of vendor stalls along Market Square.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

Boxes of merchandise stacked inside the Market Building. Signs above indicate portion sizes for various items.

An interior view of the meat market inside the Market Building.

Shoppers peruse the vendor stalls on the City Market.

An unidentifed woman shops for flowers at the City Market.

Hams and eggs at a vendor stall outside of theMarket Building.

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

Largely empty stalls inside the Market Building.

Wholesaling operations on Kirk Avenue as seen from Market Street.

A view of Market Square.

A view of the Market Building.

Looking north on Market Street toward Market Square.

Looking north on Market Street.

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

Bessie Beckner (left) and Essie Mae Beckner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maynard Rierson and family.

Rierson’s Store on Route 221.

Flier promoting a music festival at the "new" Back Creek High School.

Flier promoting "Old Time Fiddler's Convention" at Back Creek School.

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

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

Belleview Primitive Baptist Church on Roselawn Road.

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

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

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

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

Mormon Church Group at Back Creek.

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

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.

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

Former store of Clem and Mae Conner along Route 221.

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

Dr. Joseph Gale’s office in Cave Spring.

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

Starkey School

Vacation cabin at Laurel Ranch.

Haystacks along Tinsley Lane.

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

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.

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

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

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

Unidentified musicians entertain inside clubhouse of Bent Mountain Hunting Club.

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…

Will Wimmer, a farmer at Bent Mountain.

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.

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

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

Fralin's Produce along Route 221 on Bent Mountain.

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

A vacant Bottom Creek Church of the Brethren.

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

“Old” Bent Mountain School.

Bent Mountain Mutual Telephone Company stock certificate.

Allen Stone, Bent Mountain.

Ruby and Allen Stone, Bent Mountain.

Poff’s Garage, Route 221, Bent Mountain.

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

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

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

Preston Hartman

Preston Hartman home, Cave Spring.

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

“40 Acres” home postcard, Bent Mountain.

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

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

Look Out Lodge postcard, Bent Mountain.

Diane Altis on pick-up in Back Creak area.

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.

Stanley Family in snow in the Haran area.

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

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

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

Lorene Simpson and Polly Rierson.

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

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

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

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.

Group at Bent Mountain School.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alonzo Lockett in “Dokkie” fez.

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

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

Hubert Harris on Salem Avenue in Downtown Roanoke.

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

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.

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

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

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

Cave Spring Volunteer Fire Department.

Luther Bell, board of supervisors member representing Cave Spring.

Native American mortar and grinding stone found near Cave Spring, owned by M.A. Janney

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

Spring at Cave Spring.

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.

Back Creek Elementary School

Bent Mountain Elementary School

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

John Henry and Susie (Harris) Grisso.

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

Erecting telephone poles and wire in Back Creek area.

Tags:

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

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

Scene at Woodrum Orchard.

Ben Lewis, resident of Haran area.

Sally Lewis, resident of Poages Mill area.

Ink sketch of Kittinger Chapel, artist unknown.

Haran Baptist Church

Students at Back Creek School.

Haran Baptist Church

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

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,…

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

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

Mill wheel at Poage's Mill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:…

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

Stock car racing at Starkey Speedway.

Stock car racing at Starkey Speedway.

Aerial view of Starkey Speedway.

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

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

Two unidentified persons at Reed's Store.

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

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

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

Cave Spring Baptist Church

Cave Spring Baptist Church

Cave Spring Baptist Church.

Brethren baptism in a creek in Floyd County.

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.

Gas ration stamps from 1945.

“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.

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

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

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

Rendering of original log Laurel Ridge Church by Joey Meador.

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

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

Bellview Primitive Baptist Church, located on Roselawn Road.

Laurel Ridge Primitive Baptist Church, located on Roselawn Road.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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,…

Mount Olivet Baptist Church on Route 221, Bent Mountain.

Col. Fletcher Holt in his store on Bent Mountain.

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

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

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.

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

Emily Bohon and Bessie Brown

Mary Catherine Sloan Poage

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

Students and teachers in front of Back Creek School.

Students and teachers in front of Back Creek School.

Mary Catherine “Molly” Poage, Sara Poage (standing, left), Harvey Poage (standing, right), Lee Poage (on lap).

Haran Baptist Church

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

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

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

Ballard P. and Sarah Martin

Hubert Earl “Hub” Harris.

Look Out Lodge postcard, Bent Mountain.

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

Bobby, Joyce, Hazel and Robert Altis.

Ed and Viola Sloan.

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

Charlie amd Minnie Altis with Forrest and Florence Sloan.

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

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

Arlene Stanley and Clara Altis at Back Creek Elementary School.

Clara Altis and Arlene Stanley.

Mauvieleen Altis, Robert Carroll and Arlene Stanley.

Mauvieleen Altis in front of house.

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.

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.

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.

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…

Aerial view showing Green Valley Elementary School, upper right.

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…

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

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

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

Beckner homeplace on Cotton Hill Road.

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

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

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

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

Ed Sloan, auctioneer, with Harold Ferguson in background

Johnnie and Bertha Grubb making apple butter.

Turner home on Martins Creek Road in its final days.

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

Back Creek Elementary School.

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.

6th graders in Back Creek School classroom.

Unidentified children at Back Creek School.

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

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

Harvey Claytor Poage.

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

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

Deed to Pine Hill School, formerly located on Twelve O’Clock Knob Road.

Charcoal drawing of Henry Booker Wade.

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.

Margaret Rachel Owens Ferguson and William H. Ferguson.

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,…

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

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

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

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

Students at Back Creek School.

Back Creek School students. Pictured are Principal Grant McGee, teacher Ann Hogan, who later married McGee. All others unidentified.

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

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

Home of Samuel Henry.

Sarah Rettinger Henry (left) and Nannie Rettinger Grisso.

Back Creek 4-H Club.

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

Poage home and farm along Route 221.

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

Omer Simpson barn on Martins Creek Road.

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

Sam Hailey and his work mules.

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

Tilden Martin and Lamar Martin barn on Martins Creek Road.

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

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.

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

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

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

Tilden Hendrix Martin, a resident of Martins Creek Road.

Alfonso Martin, a resident of Martins Creek Road.

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.

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.

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

Back Creek Elementary School under re-construction.

Rock store near Poage Farm on Route 221.

Rierson’s Grocery on Route 221.

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

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

Back Creek High School. Pictured are: Teachers Grant McGhee, Elsie Kennedy and Ann Hogan McGhee, George Beach, Paul Ferguson, Bowman Ferguson, Clifton Grisso, Wilson Moser, Edwin Garner, Aaron Martin, Clayton Tinnell Sr., Kenneth Grisso, Carl Wade,…

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

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…

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

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,…

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…

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

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

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

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

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…

Omer C. Simpson

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

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

Haran Baptist Church

Students in front of Back Creek School.

Back Creek School.

Back Creek School with "new" addition.

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.

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

Fralin home on Ran Lynn Drive in Roanoke County.

Fralin barn on Ran Lynn Drive in Roanoke County.

Fralin home in Cave Spring.

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

Cave Spring Baptist Church

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1905 postal receipt for Haran Post Office, signed by “D. Kittinger, postmaster”.

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

Genealogical research compiled on the Conner Family of Floyd County, Virginia.

This work has been compiled in an attempt to trace the Craghead (Craighead) Family members who lived predominately in Franklin and Montgomery Counties, Virginia. Includes an index.

This index includes surnames found in the E. Marvin Raney Collection. The majority of Raney's research focuses on the families of Bedford and Franklin Counties, though surnames from other counties are represented. Raney worked extensively with Mae…

Oral History Interview with Kathryn L. Beranich
Interviewer: Julia Greider
Interviewee: Kathryn L. Beranich
Date: 17 January 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Duration: 1:37:03
Transcription prepared by: Kerri Taylor

Oral History Interview with Nancy Kelly
Interviewer: Julia Greider
Interviewee: Nancy Kelly
Date: 17 January 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Total Duration: 1:38:45
Transciption prepared by: Malinda Britt and Erin Hannon

This is a guide to the County of Roanoke Circuit Court Annexation Records Collection, This record collection consists of 2 record storage boxes containing transcripts of court proceedings for the 1974 Roanoke Valley consolidated annexation case. …

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.

This package illustrates just how well known Loebl Dye Works was, not just locally, but globally. This was sent from a dry cleaner in New Zealand for dye work. Among other clients of Loebl were the White House, the Greenbrier, New York designers…

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

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

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

Unidentified Loebl employees in the dyeing area.

Unidentified Loebl employees in the cleaning area.

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

Josef Loebl (center) and two unidentified men in "storefront" of Loebl Dye Works

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

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

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

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

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

Left to right: Roy Hargraves, Josef Loebl and Robert Loebl in a dyeing room of Loebl Dye Works, formerly located on Salem Avenue.

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

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

Unidentified students in front of Mt. Pleasant School in Roanoke County.

This collection is housed in three record storage boxes. Content consists of all of Mary Bishop’s research for “Street by Street, Block by Block: How Urban Renewal Uprooted Black Roanoke”. The collection is arranged into four series:
• Series I:…

This is an index of articles written by Raymond Barnes for the Roanoke World News. Barnes' feature articles, entitled "Echoes of Roanoke", ran from 1958-1969 and covered an array of historical topics related to the Roanoke Valley.

Brigadier is the annual of James Breckinridge Junior High School

Oral History Interview with Rissa
Interviewer: Omari Chancellor, Emily Brun
Interviewee: Rissa
Date: 18 February 2017
Location: Roanoke Diversity Center
Total Duration: 56:22
Transciption prepared by: Ta’Tyana Buster, Jac Frost

Oral History Interview with Don Muse
Interviewer: Sasha Roberts, Brooke Thacker, Victoria Preston
Interviewee: Don Muse
Date: 19 February 2017
Location: Home of Don Muse
Total Duration: 1:01:18
Transcription prepared by: Victoria Preston,…

Oral History Interview with Martha
Interviewer: Avery Kirkendall, Marcus Stewart
Interviewee: Martha
Date: 22 February 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Total Duration: 1:03:56
Transcription prepared by: Alexa Doiron, Lorien…

Oral History Interview with Robin Jordan
Interviewer: Nicholas Dillon
Interviewee: Robin Jordan
Date: 22 February 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Total Duration: 1:06:29
Transcription prepared by: Yvonne Gravely, Hannah Kolcz,…

Oral History Interview with Garland Gravely
Interviewer: Madison Pinckes, Erik Weed
Interviewee: Garland Gravely
Date: 19 February 2017
Location: Home of Garland Gravely
Total Duration: 50:15
Transcription prepared by: Dacotah McGaffic, J.T.…

Oral History Interview with Linny Caldwell
Interviewer: Megan O'Neill, Brian Fersini
Interviewee: Linny Caldwell
Date: 23 February 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Total Duration: 66:47
Transcription prepared by: Bridget Reardon,…

Oral History Interview with Michelle Bennett
Interviewer: Sarah Sinoski, Brandon Croci
Interviewee: Michelle Bennett
Date: 27 February 2017
Location: Fintel Library, Roanoke College
Total Duration: 1:21:14
Transcription prepared by: unknown

The Transportation Museum in Wasena Park submerged in flood waters from the flood of 1985.

Some of the exhibits at the Roanoke Transportation Museum in Wasena Park.

N&W Class J 611 and N&W #6 on exhibit at the Roanoke Transportation Museum in Wasena Park.

Visitors at the Roanoke Transportation Museum formerly located in Wasena Park. The museum opened in 1963.

Garland's Drugstore, formerly located at 1327 Grandin Road.

An interior view of Garland's Drugstore at its original Grandin Road location.

Unidentified children stand outside of Brice's Drugstore on Grandin Road.

Children in front of Virginia Heights Lutheran Church. The church was the predecessor of Christ Lutheran Church. This chapel was located at what is now 1320 Grandin Road.. Built in 1917, the chapel was in use by the congregation until 1948.

A view of Memorial Bridge

Raleigh Court Branch Library, located at 2112 Grandin Road.

Norwich Bridge

Harris Hardwood Company office, formerly located just off of Ashlawn Street.

The old campus-style Patrick Henry High School was dedicated on 17 December 1960. It was replaced with a conventional school building in 2008.

Wasena Elementary School, located at 1125 Sherwood Avenue.

Grandin Court Elementary School, located at 2815 Spessard Avenue.

A newly constructed Virginia Heights Elementary School (right) stands next to the old Virginia Heights Elementary.

The gymnasium addition at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

The old campus-style Patrick Henry High School was dedicated on 17 December 1960. It was replaced with a conventional school building in 2008.

Raleigh Court Elementary School, located at 2202 Grandin Road, opened in 1960 and served students through the end of the 2009 school year.

Fishburn Park Elementary School, located at 3057 Colonial Avenue.

A newly completed Woodrow Wilson Middle School, located at 1813 Carter Road.

Streetcar #47 on Grandin Road. This was the last streetcar to run in Roanoke.

A crowd gathers for the dedication of Memorial Bridge on 30 August 1926, despite having been open to traffic since 6 May 1926.

A crowd gathers for the dedication of Memorial Bridge on 30 August 1926, despite having been open to traffic since 6 May 1926.

The Virginia Avenue Bridge or Woodrum Bridge was the predecessor to Memorial Bridge.

Grandin Road Pharmacy. Located at 1314 Grandin Road, the building is now how to Gracie's Place Pizzeria and Local Roots Restaurant.

Looking north on Greenwood Road from the intersection with Shirley Avenue.

Aerial view of the intersection of Grandin Road and Memorial Avenue.

Garland's Drugstore under construction. Garland's opened in 1953.

Construction of Mick-or-Mack Grocery, located at 1312 Winborne Avenue.

Aerial view of Memorial Bridge.

Aerial view of Virginia Heights. Evergreen Cemetery is visible in the foreground; Memorial Bridge is visible in the lower right.

Looking south toward Norwich at Bridge Street.

Looking north on Bridge Street at the old truss bridge crossing the Roanoke River.

Row houses were constructed in Norwich to house the laborers who worked in the various industries in the area.

Buildings along Bridge Street in Norwich.
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