Monday, December 29, 2008
Looking Back: Dec. 29
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More history stories
- Looking back: Nov. 23
- Looking back: Nov. 16
- Looking Back
- Looking back: Nov. 2, 2009
- Looking Back: Oct. 26, 2009
Archive
1998 - 1999 (10 years ago)
n "A Radford University mineralogist and six of his geology students have started classifying a valuable mineral collection that has been gathering dust at Dublin Elementary School. ... Each sample not only will be classified, but photographed digitally for a multimedia interactive CD-ROM."
n "Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer never saw Shania. ... Cutting their own hit in Shania Twain's back yard, Beamer and Tech annihilated tradition-rich Alabama 38-7 in Tuesday's Music City Bowl at Vanderbilt Stadium."
n "Sometimes, rumors run amok. But sometimes, they're grounded in fact, like the rumor about Elton John playing at the Roanoke Civic Center in February."
n "After 37 years, Noel C. Taylor's official final service [at High Street Baptist Church] was last Sunday, when he was honored by the congregation and guests. He says he'll continue 'to do whatever I can to help my church, my city, my valley.' "
1983 - 1984 (25 years ago)
n "The five anchor department stores in Valley View Mall will be Sears, JCPenney, Leggett, Thalhimers and Miller & Rhoads, according to a road layout map approved by City Council Tuesday."
n "A 1,900-acre tract in Roanoke is among areas in several Virginia cites that will be named urban enterprise zones today by Gov. Charles Robb."
n "If all goes according to plan New Year's Eve, WDBJ television viewers will be able to watch the star rise on Roanoke's Market Square as the ball descends on New York's Times Square."
n "Patrick Henry defied the laws of logic Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Patriots made 36 turnovers against William Fleming. Yet, PH ended up winning 59-52."
1958 - 1959 (50 years ago)
n "The closing of the American Viscose plant -- the third largest industry in an economically shaky Roanoke Valley -- has been voted Western Virginia's top news story in 1958."
n "Roanokers breathed a sigh of relief today as the sun began to break through and bring to an end the wettest 31-hour period in recent months. ... 3.70 inches had been dumped on Roanoke."
n "The end is near for President Batista of Cuba, three Cuban youths said today as they visited The World-News office." [They were students at National Business College.]
n "The last of Roanoke City's 'nuisance taxes' goes off the books at midnight tonight. They are the manufacturers license tax and the floral design tax, passed by City Council 10 years ago when the city was hard-pressed for money."
n "The 'mysterious skeleton' found yesterday by three Salem youngsters has turned out to be the skeleton of a giant Korean snake."
n "George Preas, Roanoke member of the Baltimore Colts' professional football champions, has returned home -- proud of the Colts' new title."
n "Louisiana Tech lived up to its advance billing in the Gulf South Classic but had to fight off a determined bid by sophomore Bob Ayersman and his upstart Virginia Tech teammates to do it."
n "Roanoke, like the rest of the nation, had fewer marriages last year than in 1957."
n "Dr. William Riley Parker, a 1927 graduate of Roanoke College, has been appointed to head the language development program under the National Defense Education Act."
n "Cold cash found its way into hot hands last night at the Pete Moore Appliance Store. ... Thieves stole $350 in cash and checks worth $662 from a deep freeze unit at the store."
1933 - 1934 (75 years ago)
n "Business in the marriage license line here has been anything but dull in 1933. A total of 636 licenses have been issued by the clerk's office."
n "The temporary insurance of bank deposits up to $2,500 in Roanoke, as in the nation, is four days away."
n "The first dinner for worthy boys was given at Hotel Dumas yesterday afternoon by the William A. Hunton branch of the Y.M.C.A."
n "Firemen contended with such things as a burning Christmas tree, house, gasoline and grass this morning, extinguishing all blazes before much damage had been caused."
n "The second lowest temperature in 1933 and the lowest of the season was registered last night when the mercury fell to 12 degrees."
n "A band of South Roanoke sandlot football warriors emerged from frozen Maher Field yesterday afternoon with a 12-0 triumph over the Richmond Home for Boys and a claim on the State junior football championship."
n "Virginia Polytechnic Institute during 1933 went into high gear to assist the state and nation in the recovery program."
n "In making arrangements for the proper celebration of Roanoke's fiftieth anniversary ... those in charge are anxious to have a complete and authentic list of the pioneer Roanokers who have lived here continuously for the past 50 years, since the days of Big Lick in 1882."
n "John Luther Saunders, 40-year-old negro farmer, was jarred from his sleep and into the role of hero yesterday in the Virginian Railway freight wreck."
n "Some of thirty-two illiterate adults may achieve their fondest hope -- to be able to write their own names and to read Sunday school lesson leaflets -- through study in the second type of Federal Emergency Relief school classes to be organized here."
n "Two valuable pieces of property, consisting of about thirty acres, have been given to the City of Roanoke and will be developed for park and recreation purposes. ... The land is situated in Wasena, in the bottom near the bridge, and will be known as Wasena Park."
1908 - 1909 (100 years ago)
n "There were no Christmas trees at the police station yesterday morning, and the sweet order [sic] of cedar and pine were conspicuously absent."
n "Stockholders in the banks of Roanoke are to receive splendid returns on their investments in these institutions. The paying of dividends by the various banks will begin soon after the first of January."
n "The last shots in one of the warmest battles ever fought in Roanoke -- the 'wets' against the 'drys' -- were fired last night."
n "The Local Option election held in this city yesterday results in a victory for the 'Drys' by a majority of 86 votes."
n "Twelve Hungarians arrived on the morning train today to be engaged in work on the Catawba Valley railroad."
n "The Christmas holidays have passed quietly but pleasantly at Hollins Institute and the Hollins neighborhood."
n "The new year was ushered in here [in Blacksburg] with the ringing of the church bells, sounding of the whistle at the powerhouse, explosion of cannon crackers and flash of sky-rockets in the air."
