INTRODUCTION | 1 Memories of the A Pictorial History of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s
INTRODUCTION | 5 Cows on market for a livestock auction, January 11, 1933. COURTESY VIRGINIA ROOM, ROANOKE PUBLIC LIBRARIES / #DAVIS2-3.15 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE 1930s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 THE 1940s 47 THE 1950s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
COURTESY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, VIRGINIA TECH
ABOVE LEFT: The red- and cream-colored streetcar No. 47, acquired in 1926, near Grandin Road and Northumberland Avenue SW (Raleigh Court line). This was the last streetcar to run on the streets of Roanoke. On July 31, 1948, streetcar service to the area was abandoned, which also marked the end of streetcar transit altogether within the city of Roanoke. COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1982.40.07
OPPOSITE : Aerial view of streetcar tracks known as “grand union” at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Jefferson Street in Roanoke, circa 1935. NORFOLK AND WESTERN PHOTO / COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1990.69.409
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LEFT: Passengers enjoying a ride in a Norfolk and Western Railway passenger coach, 1936. The car shown is likely on the Pocahontas run, which began in 1926 and was discontinued May 1, 1971. Passenger rail service returned to Roanoke via Amtrak from 1975 until October 1980. NORFOLK AND WESTERN PHOTO /
ABOVE : The Lyric Theatre on College Avenue in downtown Blacksburg, 1934. The building, combining elements of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, was designed by Louis P. Smithey for the Blacksburg Realty Corporation and opened in 1930. Operated today as a not-for-profit theatre and community center, the Lyric continues to entertain audiences with films and also hosts concerts and special events.
COURTESY THE ROANOKE TIMES
By the late 1950s, a real slump had ensued. This one impacted the Roanoke area in two forms specifically: the change over from steam power to diesel power on the Norfolk and Western caused a dramatic reduction in shop forces; and the closing of the American Viscose plant also put many people out of work.
The private automobile, improved roads, and growing aviation industry was the interest of the returning GIs; they had spent enough time on trains during the war.
Labor unrest grew in the late 1940s and early 1950s. With coal miner strikes and steel strikes, both caused a decline in the railroad business and a number of small cutbacks. While the strikes were important, they caused only a brief impact on the country’s economy.
The Roanoke area was growing, annexation added some parts to the city. Downtown was booming, it was the shopping area for the region.
While this slowed things, the citizens were still optimistic for the coming decade of the 1960s. Building was going on, sales were still good for the downtown merchants, home sales had dropped.
At the time, it was not known that this truly was an end of an era, as the 1960s would introduce huge changes to the old ways of doing things.
The Mill Mountain Star, initially introduced only for Christmas Season 1949 was in demand, and remained lit year round. Housing was still in short supply for the new generation, but that started to ease as the years went by.
As the 1940s ended, the Norfolk and Western brought out their brand-spanking-newly equipped “Powhatan Arrow,” which was their big hope to bring riders back to the rails. The new train was displayed locally at Christiansburg and Roanoke, bringing 5,295 people to view the new deluxe cars. Alas, the visitors did not turn to riders as rail pas senger traffic continued its precipitous decline since the end of the war.
KENNETH MILLER
Also in 1952, a celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the first train to what was then Big Lick was held.
Celebration of the 75th Diamond Jubilee of the founding of Roanoke spread over nine days in June 1957. Men grew beards and mustaches in fundraising for the event.
In 1952, on the campaign trail General Dwight Eisenhower trav eled over the N&W from Winston-Salem, stopping to do a campaign speech at South Roanoke park, before departing to head east for further campaign stops.
THE 1950 s | 91 Workers at General Electric, 1950s. COURTESY VIRGINIA ROOM, ROANOKE PUBLIC LIBRARIES / #DAVIS45.613 CHAPTER
ATHETHREE1950s
Ike was not the only famous person to visit Roanoke, future presi dent Ronald Regan came to town for the dedication of the huge General Electric plant in Salem in 1957.
s the 1950s dawned, Roanoke area folks looked towards a peace ful decade, especially compared to the previous two, with the Depression and World War II. A little quiet was in order.
Ike was well received as crowds came out to see the train pass, and it was estimated that some 60,000 people saw Ike on his two trips over the N&W.
ABOVE : Members of the 1951 National Champion Midget League football team from Roanoke having a physical examination and weigh in following their trip to Lakeland, Florida to play in the Santa Claus Bowl. Participation was limited to boys weighing not over 109 pounds and no older than 13. Players, from left: John Matthews (wearing glasses), Paul Dotson (patch over his eye), Billy Seddon (left hand on his waistband), unidentified, unidentified, Ronald Hylton, Ray Fisher, Dean Young, Don Moody, Donald Rucker.
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COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1998.24.321
COURTESY THE ROANOKE TIMES OPPOSITE : Mrs. Dowdy, Mrs. Meador, nurse Evelyn Dooley, and Mrs. Hobson in the dispensary of the American Viscose Corporation on August 30, 1951.
ABOVE RIGHT: Members of the 1951 National Champion Midget League football team from Roanoke celebrating their victory at the Norfolk and Western passenger station in Roanoke after returning from the Lakeland, Florida Santa Claus Bowl. Paul Dotson and Tommy Lawson hold the team trophy. COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #2013.09.08
COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1998.24.500
RIGHT: Victory Stadium in the early 1950s. The VIrginia Railroad marshalling yards are across the road. The National Guard Armory is under construction between the stadium and the Virginian yards.
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COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1998.24.551
RIGHT: Crowd at Victory Stadium watching the Virginia Military Institute versus Virginia Tech football game, 1955. COURTESY VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE ARCHIVES
ABOVE : A football game at Victory Stadium in Roanoke, circa 1955. The teams are probably taking part in a post season game in Roanoke’s sandlot program as regular season games were not played at the stadium.
ABOVE RIGHT: Coach Tillman Sease and the Christiansburg Institute basketball team inside Scattergood Gymnasium, circa 1955. Scattergood Gymnasium is one of only two buildings that remain from Christiansburg Institute’s former 185-acre campus.
COURTESY GLADYS SOKOLOW COLLECTION, CHRISTIANSBURG INSTITUTE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES
OPPOSITE : Unidentified persons with a football trophy in the Roanoke area, circa 1955. COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1998.24.515
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COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1990.69.1032
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LEFT: The Virginian Railway (VGN) South Yard with shops and station visible, Roanoke, January 1, 1959. Victory Stadium is at center left.
ABOVE : Victory Stadium, Roanoke, circa 1950s.
OPPOSITE : North Jefferson Street in Roanoke, circa late 1950s. Visible buildings, from left: original Norfolk and Western office building, new general Office building built in 1931, Stone Printing Company building built in 1883.
COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN VIRGINIA / #1990.69.1106
ABOVE LEFT: Downtown Roanoke, circa 1950s. Jefferson Street is the central traffic artery running south to north, intersected by the Norfolk and Western Railway running from west to east. At the time the photograph was taken the Hunter Viaduct carried traffic from Williamson Road onto Jefferson Street in the downtown area. NORFOLK AND WESTERN PHOTO /
COURTESY NORFOLK AND WESTERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / #DS02441
COURTESY VIRGINIA ROOM, ROANOKE PUBLIC LIBRARIES / #MP2.31
