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The Roanoke Times

File 1936 This is the view from High Street of the memorial gates given to Roanoke College by its class of 1933. Alumni Gym is in the background.

1999 (10 years ago)

n "The College of Health Sciences Friday graduated the first students in the state to receive physician assistant bachelor's degrees."

n "After placing sheepskins into the palms of 17,162 male graduates, Virginia Military Institute will award its first diplomas to women today, just two years after the first women matriculated at the Lexington college."

1984 (25 years ago)

n "A $103.7 million budget for Roanoke for the fiscal year starting July 1 was approved unanimously Monday night by City Council, marking the first time the city budget has exceeded $100 million."

n "Federal and Roanoke authorities called in reporters and television cameras Tuesday to show off the results of a two-year investigation that ended Monday with 18 arrests and a raid on a suspected drug dealers' hillside fortress overlooking Roanoke."

1959 (50 years ago)

n "The 'James Breckenridge Junior High School' is the new name of William Fleming High School, the City School Board decided last night. The Fleming name will move to the 1,200 pupil high school to go up at Cove and Hershberger roads."

n "Jefferson and Lewis-Gale hospitals, each with a half-century of service to Roanoke, are considering merging and constructing a new plant."

n "Overwhelming approval of a proposed merger of the Norfolk and Western and Virginian railways was given by N&W stockholders here today."

n "On May 11, 1919, two U. S. Army aviators landed a World War I biplane at the Horton farm at 24th street and Melrose avenue, NW. It was the beginning of the air age in Roanoke."

1934 (75 years ago)

n "Delivery of air-condition equipment, recently ordered by the Norfolk and Western Railway company for improvement of its passenger service, will begin the latter part of this month."

n "The Roanoke College Maroons went through a diaphoretic (a good word, diaphoretic) session on Salem's municipal diamond yesterday afternoon in preparation for the coming of West Virginia University's Mountaineers this afternoon at 2:30."

n "A notable contribution to Music Week was the concert given last night at the First Baptist church, colored, by colored musicians of Roanoke, including the Addison Singers, directed by Ballard Majors."

n "Through a haze of dust Roanokers gazed into the distance yesterday, and breakfasters this morning girded their grit to eat hominy grits with a little real 'grit' added. Roanoke was experiencing for the third time the effects of Mid-Western duster storms."

n "A proposal that the city build on the city farm property a pavilion where colored sufferers from tuberculosis might be housed and treated was laid before city council yesterday."

n "The Roanoke Tennis Association, formed last night ... will assume supervision of the sport on city courts next Wednesday."

n "The sound of gravel scraping metal walls of concrete mixers, the roar of motors hauling heavily loaded trucks through yellow dust, the clang of hammers and the voice of men mingle in an atmosphere of well-ordered activity just west of Roanoke. The scene is the veterans hospital."

n "City Council considered at a called meeting last night a number of matters of routine nature which have been cluttering up its calendar."

1909 (100 years ago)

n "Alleged to have violated the city ordinance relating to the location and size of electric signs, an even twenty-five business men of this city were yesterday morning made to appear before Judge Neal in police court. ... The court has withheld his decision pending action by the councils."

n "Through the enterprise of Mr. W. R. Preddy ... Roanoke is to have another enterprise. It is a factory for the manufacture of gloves."

n "The first brick for the new [Roanoke County] courthouse was laid this morning."

n "The Board of Trustees of the Virginia Theological Seminary and College announced that the degree of Doctor of Divinity had been conferred on Rev. W. R. Brown, of Roanoke, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Jefferson street."

n "By the formation of the Botetourt Canning Association perfected at a meeting held yesterday in Troutville by the majority of the substantial growers and canners of the county, a step was taken which is expected to be of great benefit to the canning interests of this part of the state."

n "Pioneers of Roanoke, as well as the descendants of some of the older families of this section, evinced much concern yesterday after The Times made announcement of the fact that a movement is on foot to eliminate the City Cemetery, in Southeast Roanoke."

n "It has been done. Roanoke realty men have been frizzed to a frazzle and have but little to say about it. The bankers, however, are strutting about like so many banties crowing over victory deserved through its accomplishment." The bankers defeated the realtors in a baseball game.