www.roanoke.com

Photo courtesy of Lucille Conovich

This 1913 photo shows A.F. Duffy, a rural mail carrier, and his horse, Addie. Duffy had trained Addie to stop at all mailboxes.

1999 (10 years ago)

n "The Museum of Theatre History will leave the Jefferson Center to merge with the history museum at Center in the Square, both organizations say."

n "Carilion Health Systems, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia today will announce plans to establish a biomedical institute in the Roanoke area designed to foster cutting-edge research, improve health care and spark regional economic growth."

n "Culpeper County football coach Lou Sorrentino held a trophy Friday night. William Fleming counterpart George Miller held a cell phone, breaking the news of his team's loss to a caller who had been scouting another playoff game. Fleming lost the Group AAA Division 5 Northwest Region title game 29-8."

1984 (25 years ago)

n "Americans are getting a chance to trade something with the Russians besides insults. Students at Virginia Western Community College are participating in a program in which Americans will collect 1 million sugar maple seeds and trade them for 1 million crab apple seeds from the Soviet Union."

n "Lewis-Gale Hospital announced Tuesday it is the first community hospital in Virginia to receive approval to purchase a powerful new diagnostic machine that used magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of body tissues."

1959 (50 years ago)

n "When VMI and VPI battle in their traditional Thanksgiving Day game at Roanoke's Victory Stadium, they will have additional incentive. For the first time in history, the winner -- no matter who he is -- will be champion of the Southern Conference."

n "The extended arm of Lady Winter, deprived of an earlier blow over the weekend, should strike the area with unladylike force tonight, sending the temperature to 20, the lowest forecast of the season."

n "Salem is going to war against jaywalkers."

n "Roanoke apparently has more streets than it can afford and yet it needs more."

n "Where do you think the busiest telephone booth in Roanoke is? The most popular phone in town is right downtown in the People's Drug store."

1934 (75 years ago)

n "Mickey Mouse has shown Santa Claus the way from the North Pole ... to the Heironimus Toyland. ... Mickey Mouse will stay over to greet you and show you all the toys Santa Claus left in the Heironimus Toyland."

n "Fines for possession of a gallon of whiskey fell thick and fast about the shoulders of a trio in Police Court today."

n "Organization of a soccer league in the junior high schools of the city is being undertaken this week by Stanley Teasdale , of the city recreation department."

1909 (100 years ago)

n "Our faithful mail carrier, Mr. E. R. Carter, who delivers the mail from Salem on R. F. D. No. 2, had to pass through the recent forest fires. While doing so he and his horse were burnt right much."

n "Michael's Bakery has issued attractive invitations to its second annual demonstration of modern baking."

n "A Chinaman, whose name the police have not yet very clearly located, was robbed last night, or rather early this morning."

n "The National Business College of Roanoke is moving into its new home on Church avenue between Jefferson and Henry streets."

n "The Woman's Civic Betterment Club takes great pleasure in announcing a rare treat in store for the people of Roanoke. Maud Powell, who is acknowledged to be the greatest woman violinist of the world, gives a recital at Hollins on December 6th."