Flashback: Tracking NRV history

A story in The Roanoke Times on Sept. 5, 1937, said: “Known as Kingwood Schools and Homes, Inc., with the Rev. A. E. Wachtel as president, a new institution, will occupy the Crockett Springs Hotel buildings and beginning September 14 will offer courses in college, foundation, high school and grade school work.” Crockett Springs was a popular resort in Montgomery County. — The Roanoke Times files 1937

1987
(25 years ago)
- “A final draft of an annexation settlement that squeaked by the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Monday has won unanimous support from Christiansburg, which will gain 5.4 square miles of the county’s prime development land.”

- “Radford University continues to attract increasing numbers of students, but some of its degree programs are not so lucky.”

- “A $1.25 million, 10,000-seat race track proposal in Pulaski County has nearby residents geared up for a fight, but they may have lost before getting started.”

- “Christiansburg found itself alone last week in a disagreement that is developing into one of those almost-forgotten classic Western Virginia road fights.”

1962
(50 years ago)
- “Historic Maple Shade Inn – for years one of the most elegant hotels in Southwest Virginia – will be demolished soon to make way for what will be Pulaski’s first shopping center.”

- “Radford College will be divided into five schools or divisions under an academic reorganization announced by Dr. Charles K. Martin Jr., president.”

- “Fired up by the defensive unit, the ‘head hunters,’ Virginia Tech Monday had its most enthusiastic football session since last October’s Homecoming game.”

- “The case of Ricky, the purebred German shepherd dog condemned to die for killing sheep, was back formally before the State Supreme Court Friday.”

- “Powerful Narrows cruised to its 24th straight victory Friday night, opening the new campaign with a 40-0 rout of Giles in a New River District encounter.”

1937
(75 years ago)

-“Swinging back on their homeward lap after a good will tour of four Virginia counties, a party of 500 Bluefield, W. Va., business men were greeted by hundreds of residents of Pearisburg and Giles county here this afternoon.”

- “Nineteen players today answered Coach Anderson Propps’ call for grid practice at Pulaski high school.”

- “Engineers have begun staking out the site of the giant rayon manufacturing plant which the American Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing company, Ltd., proposes to build between Narrows and Pearisburg.”

- “Head Coach Henry Redd welcomed 40 gridmen out for the first workout at V. P. I. today with indications pointing to the largest Tech squad in years assembling before the end of the week.”

- “One of the warmest and wettest Augusts in years came to an end here [Floyd] on Wednesday.”

1912
(100 years ago)

- “On Saturday night robbers entered the hardware store of Mr. Jack Fisher [in East Radford] and stole $200 in cash and several valuable pearl handled knives.”

- “Folks in general are very much stirred on account of a burglar, who broke into Mr. J. F. Williams’ store, of this place [Pembroke], Saturday night. No loss with the exception of the safe, which was somewhat damaged.”

- “Miss Rhoda Bland, who has spent the past year at the West End Hotel [in East Radford], has returned to her home in Wales.”

- “According to the report made public by auditor C. I. Moore of Virginia, and published in some of the State papers, there  are seventeen men in Montgomery county who pay an income tax to the State, this being levied on all citizens whose income for the year is over two thousand dollars.”

-Compiled by Roanoke Times librarian Belinda Harris

Leave a Reply Cancel reply