Monday, June 08, 2009
Looking Back
This 1936 photo shows the interior of one of Norfolk and Western Railway's air-conditioned passenger cars, which were introduced two years earlier. Passengers entertained themselves by reading or playing cards.
Photo courtesy of Norfolk and Western Railway
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More history stories
- Looking back: Nov. 2, 2009
- Looking Back: Oct. 26, 2009
- Looking back: Oct. 19, 2009
- Looking back: 10-12-09
- Looking back: 10-07-09
Archive
1999 (10 years ago)
n "The Roanoke school system has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $1 million to establish an International Baccalaureate program and after-school tutoring at Breckinridge Middle School."
n "The well in Salem ran dry Friday night. After pulling off late-inning comebacks two nights in a row to keep its winning streak alive, the Avalanche was shut out 3-0 by Frederick to still the stream of victories after eight games."
1984 (25 years ago)
n "WBRA-TV (Channel 15), which used to go dark during the midday hours in summertime, this year is ablaze with informational and entertainment programs."
n "Steve Stinson, graphics coordinator of the Roanoke Times & World-News, has argued with grown men about whether a cartoon pig should have human hands or pig hooves. ... Today, Stinson's strip 'Hamlet' makes its debut in the Times & World-News and in 9 other newspapers across the country ..."
n "A man given the choice of marrying his girlfriend or going to prison for violating his probation apparently did not get married by the deadline set by a Roanoke County Circuit Court judge."
1959 (50 years ago)
n "There'll be tail twisting and roaring in Roanoke this week: The Lions are coming to town Thursday -- 1,500 of them -- for the 36th annual convention of 223 Lions Clubs of Virginia at Hotel Roanoke."
n "Two wrecks at exactly the same spot highlighted the stock car races at Starkey Speedway last night before an estimated crowd of 4,000."
n "With polio giving indications it might make a strong comeback in the area soon, an estimated 70,000 Roanoke City and County residents have not received Salk vaccine protection."
n "Hennis Freight Lines, Inc., will increase its annual payroll to more than $1 million with additional employment in its new Roanoke terminal."
n "The much-discussed highway spur extension into downtown Roanoke was approved today by the State Highway Commission."
n "Salem's pedestrians and motorists will have to get used to the 'new look' at Main street and College avenue. The town has put up 'walk-don't walk' lights to control pedestrian traffic."
n "A mother and her young daughter escaped serious injury when a television picture tube exploded in their southeast Roanoke home and sprayed them with slivers of glass last night."
1934 (75 years ago)
n "A local girl, a prohibition zealot, predicts that the city will need a new street cleaning machine with a cow catcher attachment to sweep the drunks out of the gutters after the State liquor stores open."
n "The eighteen-year-old aridity in Roanoke will end next Wednesday morning when two ABC stores . . . will open at 9 a.m."
n "Letters to be mailed on the first airmail flight through Roanoke keep pouring into the postoffice here."
n "The council received yesterday a new petition from a committee of colored citizens urging erection of a swimming pool in Washington Park for the use of the negro youth of the city."
n "Roanoke has an election tomorrow, in which there are no contests and in all probability there will be a light vote."
n "While a crowd that included a 104-year-old Vinton woman, Mrs. James W. Cundiff, looked on, a class of 25 was graduated at St. Andrew's Catholic church ..."
n "Donkey baseball, with all its attendant hilarity and side splitting antics, will make its debut before a Roanoke crowd tonight at Maher Field when the Roanoke Kiwanians, sponsors of the week's series here, open the schedule against the Kiwanians from Salem."
n "The first of 21 air-conditioned Pullman cars which will be operated by the Norfolk and Western Railway was put into operation today on the 'Pocahontas,' on its regular run from Columbus to Norfolk."
n "The first annual camp for Girl Scouts in Southwest Virginia in three more days will reach a successful end at Camp Powhatan in the Natural Bridge National Forest . . ."
1909 (100 years ago)
n "Roanokers had no street cars Sunday morning, every car in the city being held fast and tight in the car barns without a single sign of power with which to put themselves in motion. ... The trouble was all due to an accident at the big power station of the Roanoke Railway and Electric Company."
n "Up in arms, figuratively speaking, the citizens of Kimball ward, northeast, have shown a spirit intended to bring to a close the introduction into that vicinity of all undesirables, especially those of the class tending to reduce the moral tone of the neighborhood."
n "Summer's provision for Roanoke entertainment, the Mountain Park Casino, was again last night the Mecca for hundreds of those thirsting for theatrical amusement."
n " 'Move to Roanoke' has recurred so often of late in the different papers of this region in reference to persons coming to this city to make their home, that it has begun to look like a stereotyped phrase or a standing head."
