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The Roanoke Times

File 1985 Members of the band Roanoke, Allen Nelms (from left), Joy McKeever and Fred Frelantz, perform at the Roanoke Civic Center on Feb. 23, 1985.

2000 (10 years ago)

n "Pomp, circumstance, patriotism and sweat filled the Salem Civic Center Wednesday morning as former President George Bush touted his son, presidential candidate George W., to an overflow crowd of veterans, students and plain old loyal Republicans."

n "The Roanoke College women's basketball team won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament for the third time in four years Saturday, downing Emory & Henry 59-48 at the Salem Civic Center."

1985 (25 years ago)

n Roanoke native Durrell Coleman ... [continued] a winning streak that began in November on the television show, 'Star Search.' "

n "Judging from all the different types who turned out Saturday night, people weren't sure what to expect from the much-heralded debut of Roanoke, the former Vikings folk group that played in smoky beer joints in the Roanoke Valley in the '60s. "

1960 (50 years ago)

n "A lease has been signed for a large Leggett's department store to be built in the Roanoke-Salem Shopping Center."

n "Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys of Grand Ol'e Opry fame, will appear as guests of Don Reno and Red Smiley on Ch. 7's 'Top O' The Mornin' Thursday and Friday, at 7 a.m."

n "Part of Salem will take on a brighter night-time look this summer. It will be provided by a $12,000 mercury vapor street lighting system approved last night by Town Council."

n "The Roanoke fuel distributors -- coal, gas and oil -- would probably like to strew the ground hog's burrow with rose petals ... if it weren't so chilly."

n "Southwest Virginia, one of February's favorite dumping grounds this year, received another surprise snowfall last night that left two inches in Roanoke."

1935 (75 years ago)

n "A clinic on wheels for all county school children and for indigents in the city schools will be the latest in health service here when it is put in service by the Roanoke county chapter of the American Red Cross."

n "The Boys' Choir of St. John's Episcopal church will give a program in Christ Episcopal church, Blacksburg, tomorrow at 8 p.m. This choir, which is one of the few boys' choirs in this section of Virginia was organized in 1930."

n "The William A. Hunton branch of the Y.M.C.A., serving the colored men and boys of the city, experienced during 1934 one of the best years of its history from the standpoint of activities."

n "Roanoke police made simultaneous raids on eight downtown cigar and confectionery stores early today and followed up that work with visits to six scattered places suspected of selling untaxed liquor."

1910 (100 years ago)

n "It's a wonder, the expensive Auxetophone, that has been installed at the Electric Parlor. It's the talk of the town and every one should hear it."

n "Owing to the frequency of immoral acts at the moving picture shows and theaters, Mayor Cutchin has addressed a recommendation to the ordinance committee in which he suggests and advises that an ordinance be framed which shall provide for a censor to be employed by the city."

n "Mr. J. C. Nesbit, who has the contract for the erection of the new Jefferson Theatre , on the corner of Jefferson street and Luck avenue, has promised ... that the building will be ready for the first performance about March 28th."

n "If you have any old bottles, from the ones that go with babyhood to the little brown jug, save them. See that they are emptied ... and clean ... today the pupils of the Park street school will be abroad to collect the bottles, and sell them to raise funds for the establishment of a library at the school."

n "Raleigh Court, the new suburb, is composed of the Cannady farm property and the Metropolitan Heights tract. It contains about thirty acres."

n "It was reported in financial circles today that the Pennsylvania railroad had acquired sufficient of the stock of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company to give it absolute control of the road."

n "The Lewis-Gale hospital on the corner of Roanoke street and Luck avenue, is completed and is said to be one of the most up-to-date and complete hospitals in this country."