Monday, February 23, 2009
Looking Back: Feb. 23
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The Roanoke Times | File Feb. 1959
Jessie duPont received Hollins College's first honorary degree, doctor of humane letters, in 1959. The new chapel on campus was named in her honor at the same time.
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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)
"Acknowledging that he is bone tired from five years of constant fund-raising and legislative lobbying, Virginia Tech President Paul Torgersen on Monday announced that he will retire by the end of the year."
"Saying it needs room to grow, Rowe Furniture Corp. announced plans Tuesday to buy 40 acres of Montgomery County pasture for a $15 million factory to replace its 600-employee plant in Salem, which will close."
"Louise Jargowsky, a chemistry and earth science teacher at Lord Botetourt High School, has been given the 1998 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year award."
"Cave Spring graduate Gregg Marshall won the Big South Conference men's basketball Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm of Winthrop."
"No, Western Virginia isn't the Internet Capital of the World. That's Northern Virginia. And no, the 1,000-employee Virginia Biotechnology Research Park isn't here. That's in Richmond. But according to a retired scientist from Roanoke, the Roanoke region can claim at least one extraordinary technological achievement: the invention of a fiber-optic phone system."
1984 (25 years ago)
"Roanoke City Council Tuesday approved a master plan for a $2.8 million sports complex in the area around Victory Stadium, Maher Field and South Roanoke Park."
"A New York State sculptor, Brower Hatcher, has been chosen to produce the artwork for the atrium of Roanoke's new courthouse."
"The late Frank Loria, Virginia Tech's only consensus football All-American, has been elected to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame."
1959 (50 years ago)
"The first honorary degree in the history of Hollins College was awarded yesterday to Mrs. Alfred I. duPont. The awards ceremony was part of a dedication service for the college's new Jessie Ball duPont Chapel, named in the degree winner's honor."
"Salem's second oldest drugstore, Dillard's at Main and College streets, has closed after being in business 73 years."
"Microfilm copies of the Roanoke Leader, a weekly paper published between 1882 and 1886, have been received by the Roanoke Public Library."
"Marko Nikezic, Yugoslavian ambassador to the United States, will attend the U.S. premier of 'Legend of Ochrid,' a Yugoslavian ballet suite, by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Monday."
"One of Roanoke's oldest buildings, closely interwoven in the history of the city, may be torn down. The 129-year-old structure in Elmwood Park -- now known as the Garden Center -- has been termed unsafe."
1934 (75 years ago)
"The 'machine gun bill,' which passed the house of delegates Monday . . . is the outgrowth of a resolution adopted by the Roanoke Woman's club in December, 1933, members of the club pointed out yesterday."
"The business offices of The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Virginia will be moved to the first floor of this new telephone building, on the southeast corner of Luck avenue and Third street, S.W."
"Thirty-eight trucks and 150 men were making a determined attack on the piles of snow on downtown streets today . . . shoving the 11-inch snowfall back toward the curb."
"An army of snow shovelers went into the residential sections yesterday to clean walks and make paths for those who wanted to bring out their automobiles. Many an unemployed man, white and colored, picked up a few extra dollars at snow cleaning."
"The mercury dropped to one degree below zero here last night, the coldest since January, 1924 . . ."
"The fire department will put into service this afternoon a new pumping engine, designed and built, with the exception of engine and chassis, by members of the department."
1909 (100 years ago)
"Two more big industries are heading for Roanoke. At least that is the report. One of them is a carriage factory . . . The other one is a hardwood lumber concern . . ."
"The difference now and twenty years ago -- Shawsville was noted then for its red mud, today it is noted for its business and hustling citizens."
"Not long since the attention of the officers of the town [Salem] was called to the loafing on the public street corners, which, we are very glad to announce, has been cut out by action of the authorities."
"Bids for the erection of a passenger station for the Virginian railroad at Roanoke are to be opened in Norfolk some time today..."
"Flat cars, brawny muscles, and a lot of aggressive hustling enabled the Roanoke Railway and Electric Company to transfer itself last night, bag and baggage, to the new headquarters within about two hours time. It was one of the quickest jobs on record."
"Mayor Joel H. Cutchin has vetoed the resolution recently passed by the city council providing for the employment of Rev. T. J. Hacker, pastor of the Reformed church as overseer of the poor at a salary of $25 per month."
"On last Tuesday afternoon Dr. J. P. Killian performed an operation on Mr. G. H. Park, removing a portion of the big toe. Only cocaine was used as an anaesthetic, and the operation was done without any pain whatever to the patient."
"Several young men and ladies of this city will give a dance this evening in the Dancing Academy, corner of Campbell ave., and Henry st."
"There are 105 automobiles in this city, but Chief Dyer has issued only 52 permits so far."
"The police are on the look out every day in the week for those who persist in swearing and expectorating on the streets."
