Flashback: Tracking NRV history

The Roanoke Times file 1937 “The job of razing the old sheriff’s house (at far right) here and one-time jail began …" The building had served the county for 100 years or more.

1987
(25 years ago)
-“After 40 years of operation in Pulaski County, Burlington Industries Inc. is closing its Newbern plant by the end of next year, eliminating 380 jobs.”
-“Blacksburg’s football team again did what it does better than any other Friday night. The Indians broke the hearts of their neighbors from Christiansburg.”
-“Virginia Tech alumni, some still steaming about a summer of disruptive controversy over Hokie athletics, turned out by the thousands Saturday for Tech’s opening football game against the Clemson Tigers. Tech lost 22 – 10, but loyal fans…said after the game that they thought the team and its new coach, Frank Beamer, looked promising in their debut…”
-“Brent Burger believes he has tasted success and it comes in 26 flavors. He sees a future of plastic cups filled with soft-serve yogurt…”

1962
(50 years ago)
-“The Virginia Tech varsity got a frightful scare before subduing the freshman squad 20-6 on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns here Saturday.”
-“The long-awaited installation of the VPI Memorial Chapel pipe organ is now complete.”
-“Haystacks Calhoun and Abe Jacobs will tangle with P. Y. Chung and Swede Hanson in a tag match on the wrestling card at Ragsdale Field here [Narrows] Thursday night.”
-“Thirty-four ‘deserving’ Montgomery County high school graduates have been awarded a total of $20,150 in college scholarships – the first given by the estate of millionaire Frank E. Page who died in 1954.”
-“A Southern Railway express car carrying three cans of nonexplosive, nonfissionable research material caught fire near here early Friday morning and touched off a scare of radioactive contamination for more than 15 hours.”

1937
(75 years ago)
-“Dr. Sidney B. Hall, state superintendent of public instruction, said tonight Dr. John Preston McConnell, president of Radford State Teachers’ college, had submitted his resignation, effective November 15.”
-“The first frost of the season formed here [Floyd] this morning.”
-“Operation of a radio station in connection with Loving field, Pulaski airport, will be started within the next 10 days, it has been announced.”
-“Head Coach Henry Redd ran three Virginia Tech teams through a hard scrimmage this afternoon in preparation for the opening game with Roanoke college Saturday.”

1912
(100 years ago)
-“Arrangements for the approaching reunion of the confederate soldiers of the grand camp of Virginia to be held in Pulaski on the 25, 26, and 27 of the month are rapidly assuming definite and satisfactory shape.”
-“During a rain and electrical storm which passed over Dublin on Saturday afternoon last lightning struck the residence of Superintendent E. L. Darst and played considerable havoc.”
-“School started Monday [in Radford] with about 650 pupils.”
-“There remains but a few short weeks before this resort [Crockett Springs] closes for the season.”
-“Hotel Blacksburg, under the management of Mr. and Mrs. D. Harmon Keister, opened its doors to the public Wednesday evening and promises to have a very successful career.”

-Compiled by Roanoke Times librarian Belinda Harris

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