www.roanoke.com

Photo courtesy of Lois Dezelich

This photo from April 1945 shows the pond in downtown Roanoke's Elmwood Park.

2000 (10 years ago)

n "Beginning April 4, computers and other materials in Roanoke's Breckinridge and Woodrow Wilson middle school libraries will be available for public use in the late afternoon and early evening three days a week."

n "The Minnick Education Center will build a $3.8 million state-of-the-art regional education center for youths with behavioral and academic problems on 10 acres at Airport and Dent roads in North Roanoke County. "

1985 (25 years ago)

n "A Roanoke general contracting firm has been awarded a $2.2 million contract for construction of the Salem football stadium."

n "John Norman Inc. has left downtown Roanoke after 53 years."

n "At the Roanoke Civic Center Friday night, Foreigner used laser light effects, a giant P. A. system, and the High Street Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir."

1960 (50 years ago)

n "When it comes to police departments, Roanoke's 124-man force is said to rank with the best in the state. But when it comes to paying for police protection it appears to be a horse of another color."

n "The third day of spring lashed Roanoke today with a blow that showed winter storms a thing or two."

n "The Roanoke Dodgers, a semi-pro outfit for several seasons, have joined the Central American Assn. Baseball League."

n "Money to pay a special woman traffic officer at Clearbrook Elementary School has been refused by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors."

n "Shoppers in Roanoke may soon find merchants paying automobile parking lot fees for them."

n "The idea of a backyard nuclear war fallout shelter apparently appeals to some Roanokers."

n "Today, as adults ponder Khrushchev in Paris, Roanoke's small fry worry about a more serious problem. Miss Lucy, the ring-tailed monkey at the Mill Mountain Zoo, is sick."

1935 (75 years ago)

n "The board of directors of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce ... informed prospective candidates for the Virginia General Assembly that the chamber will oppose any measures aimed at reducing funds for highway maintenance and construction."

n "The State champion Addison High cagers have been invited to compete in the national basketball tournament for negro teams in Gary, Ind., March 29 and 30, and the team will go if enough money can be raised to offset expenses."

n "The council of the Town of Salem has arranged to purchase the old Younger property for use as a downtown municipal park."

n "The last 5 percent of the 10 percent reduction in pay of employes of Norfolk and Western ... will be restored April 1, putting the railway workers back on the 'pre-depression' level."

n "The Park Inn Kittens unsheathed their claws last night to win the Southwest Virginia Junior Gold Medal tournament from a gallant band of Barley Drug warriors of Buchanan 27 to 22 in the finals of the event played on the city market floor."

n "Federal prisoners will not be accepted even for short periods of incarceration in the Roanoke city jail unless payment of their board is guaranteed."

n "A bold bad bandit filched Roanoke County Deputy Sheriff C. E. Simmons' official car from right under the nose of the Roanoke Police Department last night, drove about a bit after replacing the tags with another set -- also stolen, and abandoned it in a Northwest alley."

1910 (100 years ago)

n "A mutiny exists in the rank and file of the political forces of council and mayorites and anti-mayorites are forming barricades against the encroachment of either upon the sacred ground of the wards across the tracks -- Melrose and Kimball -- and those to the south composed of Highland and Jefferson."

n "Tomorrow the question of the bond issue will be voted upon by the free holders of the city of Roanoke. The election means an epoch in the history of the city for if it fails improvements now contemplated will be delayed many months and may be years."

n "Manager Shaughnessey's Champions were out again yesterday morning working out some of the kinks."

n "The town council of Vinton ... granted a franchise to the Roanoke Railway and Electric Company to enter the town for the purpose of distributing and selling electric current for power, lighting and heating. The franchise is for a long term of years."

n "The Roanoke Turkish Bath Company was granted a charter yesterday by the State corporation commission."