www.roanoke.com

1987 (25 years ago)

-- "On the third try, the Salvation Army has won a new home for its shelter for battered women and children."

-- "Consolidated Stores Corp. of Columbus, Ohio, is buying four former Mick-or-Mack stores and will reopen them about April 1 as Big Lots discount stores, offering closeout and liquidated merchandise."

-- "Roanoke College's basketball team started Saturday night's game by singing the national anthem, and it wasn't until the second half that the Maroons hit a sour note."

-- "The redoubtable Ray Charles -- peerless singer-pianist and a respectable novice actor ... will join the Roanoke Symphony next February for a performance of 'Black Requiem' by Quincy Jones."

-- "Western Virginia on Tuesday shoveled, scraped and slid its way out of the third major storm of the snowiest winter in almost 20 years."

-- "A snowstorm offers Valley Metro the chance to win friends and riders, the thing it needs the most these days."

1962 (50 years ago)

-- "The weather for Wednesday's space shot aside, the John H. Glenn family is going to get Roanoke's world's largest valentine today."

-- "Hull Downs Milk Ear Willie, a Roanoke bloodhound owned by John and Mary Hazelwood, captured best of winners here (New York) Tuesday night in the Westminster Dog show."

-- "Consolidation of Jefferson and Lewis-Gale hospitals in the projected Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley will save a million dollars a year in costs, Clem D. Johnston, campaign chairman for the new building, said Wednesday."

-- "A new attempt to organize Roanoke municipal employes has been launched by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employes, AFL-CIO."

-- "Three business spokesmen from Roanoke urged the General Assembly Thursday to adopt uniform Daylight Savings Time in Virginia during the summer months."

-- "The appointment of Melvin L. Schuweiler, a Salem businessman, to a top post in President Kennedy's Peace Corps was confirmed Thursday."

-- "Western Virginia got its weekly dose of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain Friday."

-- "Roanoke area home building is already climbing the sides of the mountains and as time goes by it may have to climb the grades in more and more places."

1937 (75 years ago)

-- "Organization of Coastal Air Freight Inc., flying freight both ways between Los Angeles and San Francisco, was announced yesterday with two local youths and two others as incorporators." The Roanokers were Chris Carper and Leonard Hylton.

-- "'Tobacco Road,' that daring and smashing interpretation of a low section of American life, long willingly forgotten or covered by a screen of righteousness and piety, struck Roanoke last night with a thud that left a large audience at the Academy of Music somewhat startled and not a little bit confused in its reaction."

-- "Contract for the construction of a new mortuary building in the 300 block of West Church avenue, at the cost of $92,383.78, yesterday was awarded to J. F. Barbour and Sons, it was announced by members of the firm of John M. Oakey, Inc."

-- "An event of much importance in the civic development of Salem will take place Monday morning at 9 o'clock when the Salem free public library opens for active service to the community."

-- "Tomorrow morning Roanoke's industrious housewives and early-rising stay-at-homes will be greeted by the suave wit of Irving Sharp ... in the 346th Musical Clock program, 'good morning' of Roanoke's radio station WDBJ."

-- "Estimates on the cost of skating rinks in Highland and Jackson parks, which are being considered by council as one possible solution to the problem of skating on the sidewalks, may be submitted at the weekly meeting of council."

-- "Dr. Lylburn Liggin Downing, colored, for the past 42 years pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church of Roanoke, died at 9 o'clock last night at his home."

-- "A variety of weather was dished up to Roanokers yesterday, including a thunderstorm, snow flurries and high winds, as the temperature remained near the freezing point."

1912 (100 years ago)

-- "It will not be long before 'Acorns of Roanoke,' the annual of the Roanoke High School, will be ready for the press."

-- "Efforts of the police have been unavailing in their attempt to clear the mystery surrounding the death of John S. Burnett, special agent for the Virginian road, who was found last night ... as the last breath was leaving his body."

-- "Some excitement was occasioned, in that section known as South Salem, yesterday when it became known that a resident of the neighborhood was the victim of smallpox."

-- "St. Valentine, Cupids, Hearts, Love & Co., will be on the job in Roanoke today."

-- "A wet, disagreeable snow set in early this morning and has been falling steadily throughout the day."

-- "In police court this morning Judge Berkeley fined ... a Floyd county farmer, $25 for obtaining money under false pretenses -- viz, stuffing a turkey with rocks to bring up its weight."

-- "'Chief Roanoke's Daughter,' a sparkling comic opera ... dedicated to the city of Roanoke, was presented at the Academy of Music last night by a company made up of local talent ... and was by far the most complete and perfect amateur entertainment ever produced in this city."

-- "The L. S. Fine Corporation, formerly of Norfolk, Va., is now located at 12-14 Norfolk avenue, n. w., in a handsomely equipped and spacious warehouse."