Monday, January 26, 2009
Looking Back, Jan. 26
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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
1999 (10 years ago)
"No more getting kicked out of the library before your research is done ... A new service, EBSCOHOST, loaded at the Roanoke County Public Library, lets you browse 1,800 magazines from your desk, writes Jay Stephens, the library's coordinator of reference and adult services."
"Don't plan to enjoy a cigarette with your peanut soup the next time you eat at the Regency Room. Starting Feb. 15, patrons at the Hotel Roanoke's dining room will be asked politely -- but firmly -- to extinguish their cigarettes."
"The age of alternative rock radio has come to Roanoke. Beck, Cake, Hole and other so-called 'modern rock' acts can now be heard on WZZI-FM (101.5). The former Vinton-based country music station has switched to a modern rock format and has moved its offices to downtown Roanoke."
"Unemployment hit a 50-year low last year in the Roanoke metropolitan area, state labor officials said Thursday."
"Virginia Tech's bid for an undefeated women's basketball season ended against a team that always has given the Hokies trouble. Xavier handed Tech its first loss of the season Friday night, 71-67."
"The first passage of the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail might be finished in time for the 135th anniversary of the June 21, 1864, fight, the only Civil War battle fought on Roanoke County soil."
1984 (25 years ago)
"A federal judge in Roanoke will decide within two weeks whether porn publisher Larry Flynt might have to come to Virginia to defend himself against a $45 million libel suit filed by Lynchburg evangelist Jerry Falwell."
" 'Cookin' Cheap,' which originated and still runs on Blue Ridge Public Television, is going national. It will be an occasional part of 'The Great American Homemaker,' a new magazine style show that joins the USA Cable Network schedule on Monday."
"Friendship Manor is marshaling an army of senior citizens, preachers, non-profit organizations and others in an attempt to get Roanoke County Commissioner R. Wayne Compton to repent. Compton has challenged the non-profit status of Friendship Manor."
"One might have guessed the guy they call Al Pacino would be the star Friday night before the season's largest hockey crowd. John Tortorella, who has been hearing Al Pacino catcalls ever since his first appearance ... scored two goals, including the game-winner."
"Our telephone may soon link us to quick reports on the time, weather, sports scores, stock quotations and anything else enough people are willing to pay to hear."
1959 (50 years ago)
"The first Negro men's garden club in Virginia has been organized in Roanoke. The Men's Garden and Improvement Club was started under the sponsorship of the Golden Harvest Garden Club."
"The firms of Agnew and Connelly, handlers of seeds, feeds and poultry supplies, has been dissolved but the two partners will continue operating as individuals in the same type of business."
"Military personnel in Roanoke have opened a club in the quarters of the former University Club at 9 Elm Ave., SW. The new organization is called the Zebra Club."
"Three southwest Virginia Republican legislators were the only dissenters today as the House of Delegates passed a bill which would kill Virginia's compulsory school attendance laws."
"A research laboratory to probe the causes of blindness has been established here. It is the second of its kind in the nation."
1934 (75 years ago)
"The latest thing for men -- when the spring rolls 'round again -- will be trousers with zipper fronts. At least one clothier here already has his order in."
"Ill with influenza and running a temperature, Coach Gordon C. 'Pap' White used a telephone to direct, from his home, the rousing Roanoke College victory over the Louisburg Junior College team."
"Appearing last night at a Boy Scout rally, Chief Crazy Bull, of the Sioux tribe, recited Indian lore, explained the Indian sign language, presented several dances and gave an exhibition of archery ... Chief Crazy Bull is the grandson of Chief Sitting Bull."
"The dancing pavilion at Palmer Park, on the old Hollins road, was completely destroyed by fire late last night."
"Jefferson High's victory dirge was wafting over the holls toward West Virginia today as Coach Hunk Hurt and his Magicians sallied forth to stalk the Beavers in their den at Bluefield."
"Stranded automobiles, frozen radiators and bursted water pipes bore testimony this morning to the severity of the cold wave which descended suddenly upon Roanoke last night ... the temperature dropped sharply during the night to reach 7, the lowest official recording of the year."
"Dr. George E. Moore, 60, one of Roanoke's oldest negro physicians, died this morning in Philadelphia."
"John H. Pinkard, colored native of Franklin county and probably one of Roanoke's wealthiest colored residents, died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at his house in Pinkard Court on the Rocky Mount road."
"Fifty years ago today [Jan. 31] the General Assembly made Roanoke a city, extended the city limits and appointed Lucian H. Cocke the first mayor of the new city."
1909 (100 years ago)
"On account of the shutting down of the lid in the city of Roanoke, whereby the Sabbath day laws are enforced to the letter, seven train crews were laid off Sunday."
"Last night at a few minutes to 12 o'clock the big flouring mill of Gambill & Davis was discovered to be on fire, and at 2 o'clock there was nothing left of the structure except the walls."
"Burglars entered Wright's barber shop [in Salem] last Wednesday night and helped themselves to a number of razors, hair clippers, shaving brushes, etc."
"When the Manhattan Opera Company begins its engagement of one week at the Academy Monday the local theatre-goers will witness and hear what has been styled the best opera company that ever toured the South."
"An exciting runaway accident occurred about noon yesterday on Jefferson street."
