Monday, April 27, 2009
Looking back: April 27
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The Roanoke Times
File 1984 The Boxley Building, constructed in 1921-22 by then-Mayor W.W. Boxley, was listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1984.
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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)
n "Skateboarders and Rollerbladers in the Roanoke Valley will no longer have to dodge pedestrians and cars, or vice versa. As public officials dedicated Roanoke Valley Skate Park Monday afternoon, the battle cry of skaters who have been kicked off of sidewalks and parking lots was clearly evident: 'Skateboarding is not a crime.' "
1984 (25 years ago)
n "In the latest effort to rank America's cities in a best-and-worst-places-to-live list, Roanoke comes in 58, meaning 57 cities just might be better."
n "Lost in the skirmishing over this year's Roanoke City council race is the 100th anniversary of the city's first mayoral and council elections."
n "The eight-story Boxley Building, constructed in 1921-22 by then-Mayor W. W. Boxley, has been declared a Virginia Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historical Places."
1959 (50 years ago)
n "Mrs. Ethel M. Viaud, who with her husband, the late Gustave Viaud, founded the Viaud School in 1924, died yesterday at her home .... She was 95."
n "The first Roanoke performance of Mendelssohn's 'St. Paul' oratorio was given yesterday by the combined choirs of Huntington Court Methodist and Christ Lutheran churches."
n "Sidney F. Robertson last night became recipient of the Roanoke Civitan Club's first annual 'Good Samaritan Award.' "
n "If you were wondering why it took so long to play 18 holes over the weekend, here's the answer. By actual count, 1,803 golfers pursued the white ball on Saturday and Sunday."
n "Vinton's Dogwood Festival has become like the old woman and the shoe -- the festival draws so many people the town doesn't know what to do." Actor Steve McQueen was the parade marshal.
1934 (75 years ago)
n "The moonshining industry was more or less unstable here today as Federal dry agents, continuing a drive against unlicensed liquor manufacturers, reported the seizure of two 350-gallon metal plants, 410 gallons of whiskey and 10,600 gallons of beer."
n "A collection of Indian arrowheads, gathered by John Engleby during the years between 1890 and 1932, has been presented to the Roanoke public library by Thomas L. Engleby."
n " 'Popeye the sailor' is a favorite comic strip with Roanoke College playground ball players, judging by the names of teams that will begin play Monday."
n "City Manager W.P. Hunter told city council yesterday that renters of the city market auditorium in the future will be required to obtain a permit from him before the market clerk is authorized to open the hall to them."
n "Four Roanoke College students returned last night from Hampton where they represented the Salem school at the celebration of the 61st anniversary of the founding of Hampton Institute, a Negro institution of learning."
n "One of the big outstanding social sporting events of this spring in Roanoke will be the Roanoke Junior League Horse Show, which is announced for June 2 at the fairgrounds."
n "Many Roanoke homes are without water-tight metal garbage containers and a good many such containers now in use do not have tight-fitting covers, it was shown in the reports turned over to the Chamber of Commerce by Boy Scouts who made an inspection of the city at the close of clean-up week on April 21."
n "The first passport and tour papers to Russia issued here since recognition of the U.S.S.R by the United States has been drawn up by Frank J. Sherertz for Issie Fox ... it was announced today."
n "It was 50 years ago today, May 1, 1884, that Roanoke had its first telephone service."
n "In these days of the New Deal, almost any kind of social experiment may be expected. One of the most interesting of these experiments is the nursery for pre-school children, which is being conducted in Roanoke under the direction of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration."
n "An alabaster baptismal font has been presented to the Second Presbyterian church of Dr. Clara Coleman, of Santa Anna, Calif. ... The font is over 100 years old, and has been in Dr. Coleman's family for 70 years."
1909 (100 years ago)
n "The electric iron, which was first introduced here about two years ago, has grown in popularity until today more than 800 of them are in use in Roanoke homes."
n "For Roanoke fans, yesterday afternoon was perhaps the biggest event of the year, for it was the occasion of the opening game in this city in the Virginia League, and the Highlanders were called on to play Win Clark's bunch from Norfolk. After an up-hill fight, the locals won out by the score of 7 to 5."
n "Not a ripple marred the intended tranquility of the initial rally of the Citizens League of Roanoke last night. Peace reigned at the start and peace was still reigning when the session was over."
n "It is very probable that some time this year Roanokers will have the pleasure of witnessing a real live automobile race, which will be participated in by machines from all parts of the country."
n "The new ten-ton steam roller for building streets, recently purchased by the town [of Salem], has arrived, and was put into operation yesterday on the east end of the Boulevard, and is giving perfect satisfaction."
n "Work has been begun looking towards the connecting of the new Hollins library with the other buildings by means of walks and colonnades."
n "Today the Roanoke Publishing Company announces the greatest newspaper popularity contest ever attempted in the Magic City and vicinity .... The Times and The News are going to give away within the next eight weeks, $6,500.00 in prizes to the popular and energetic people of this section."
n "Murder may be the result of a fight which occurred in Vinton Friday night."
