www.roanoke.com

n "A downtown task force is recommending that Salem Avenue and part of Campbell Avenue become two-way streets as part of a plan to make downtown Roanoke more accessible to visitors."

n "A banner on the Jefferson Street side of One Elm Place advertises the renovated apartment complex with the words 'Now Leasing: Corporate and Individual.' A few short years ago, a less polished banner that hung out back proclaimed, 'Woe Unto the Rich.' Those signs chronicle the shifting fortunes of Roanoke's downtown housing. It blossomed until the late 1960s, then was abandoned for the suburbs, and once again has appeal for developers and tenants."

1983 (25 years ago)

n "Hazel Thompson, a retired black schoolteacher, saw a dream come true Tuesday when she scooped the first shovel of dirt to mark the start of the renovation of the old Harrison School in Northwest Roanoke."

n "They gave Al Holland the key to the city Wednesday when Roanoke's gift to major league baseball arrived to a red-carpet welcome."

n "Professional hockey is returning to the Roanoke Valley."

n "Except to suggest that there must be something in the water, it is difficult to explain the verve with which Roanoke has handled the occasional big shows that have come its way for more than 100 years. Friday, it was the formal opening of Center in the Square."

n "Salem City Council Monday night accepted National Business College's proposal to relocate from downtown Roanoke to the Conehurst Elementary School property."

1958 (50 years ago)

n "It was cold enough yesterday to redden you nose, but today it'll be cold enough to make it drop off."

n "Locker thievery at local high schools ... was brought to light today by an irritated parent whose child has missed lunch on several occasions."

n "The Roanoke Fair Inc., a popular area attraction since 1937, will not be held next year."

n "An estimated 100 guests were expected to bring gifts of blood to an unusual birthday party here today. The occasion was the eighth anniversary of the Roanoke Regional Blood Center."

n "Extension of a runway at the airport will eliminate an unsightly and illegal trash and garbage dumping ground."

n "Jim Ayers, a Roanoke College senior enthusiastic about the theater, has written and is now directing his first play."

1933 (75 years ago)

n "The Civil Works Administration will put 1,883 men to work in Roanoke until February 15."

n "Five persons accused of violating the State pure food laws -- through improper 'doctoring' of hamburger, having unlabeled substitutes in coffee or replacing unsold cakes -- were arraigned in Police Court today."

n "Mark Shull, popular Roanoke tenor, is in New York, doing radio broadcasting."

n "Norfolk and Western Railway golfers will seek to improve their drives this winter in an improvised driving net in the basement of the railway's new office building."

n "The United Confederate Veterans elected one of their youngest members, J. W. Gwaltney, commander. The new commander is just 89 -- and Roanoke's oldest voter."

n "The first Christmas trees, gracefully formed, fragrant cedars, were put on sale at the market here yesterday afternoon."

n "Interest is growing in the lecture to be given here tomorrow evening by Dr. George Washington Carver, eminent negro scientist of Tuskegee Institute."

1908 (100 years ago)

n "The colored teachers of Montgomery county have organized a Colored Teachers' Institute."

n "Superintendent Rust, of the Roanoke public schools, is the owner of an ancient copy of a book on algebra. ... The book was printed in London in the year 1790."

n "There has recently been installed at the Crawford Hotel a new heating system of the latest pattern. ... The Crawford now has summer heat in every room and bath room, which will make the resort equal to any hotel in the state."

n "The management of the Roanoke baseball club have not yet recovered from the bewilderment into which they were plunged by the action of W. B. Bradley in supporting Jake Wells for the presidency of the State League."

n "The council, in its dispensation on recommendation of the good things of this life for the city officials, failed to place on the menu one delicacy -- that of furniture for the police station."

n "On the first of next May there will begin in the city of Roanoke one of the most important improvements that has been undertaken here for many years. It will be the erection by the First National Bank of a new home, and this new home will be contained in a magnificent seven-story structure that will stand on the corner of Jefferson street and Salem avenue."

n "The residents of the southwest section of the city on Sixth avenue to Sixth street were the recipients of a treat last evening ... that was both surprising as well as pleasant. They had a opportunity to ride on a trolley car they could call 'Their own.' "