Page 76 - A Narrative of the History of Roanoke Virginia

was a beautiful display of fireworks which concluded the day's festivities." "Roanoke is a big
and lively ten-year old," editorialized the Baltimore Sun. "May it be twice as big and twice as
lively when it celebrates its twentieth birthday."

And the man most honored by all the visitors and his fellow townsmen was N. & W. President
Frederick V. Kimball, who more than any other was responsible for the magic change from Big
Lick.

The dawn of the Twentieth Century found Roanoke with a population of 21,495 . Assessed
valuation finally had topped eleven million dollars. There were sound :financial institutions, a
new court house and jail, a good theater, miles of graded, paved streets, adequate schools,
diversified industry, a new hospital, efficient fire and police departments, a sound and sensible
city government, militia, a band and a baseball team.

The following is a compendium of various bits and pieces of information, gathered here and
there from a variety of sources and put together like a running account of the changes,
th
improvements and accomplishments of the city from its tenth birthday to into the 20 century.
I think it makes for interesting reading, particularly for old-time Roanokers who quite likely
remember a number of these milestones.

Starting this off, a horse-drawn ambulance was purchased by the hospital association. St.
Mark’s Lutheran and Greene Memorial Methodist exchanged church buildings. A big store at
Campbell and First Streets was built and first occupied by Watt, Rettew and Clay. It was later
run by Macbain, and then by Heironimus. It was demolished in 1956 and the new Miller and
Rhoads store rose on the site.

The Alleghany Institute ceased to function and the Roanoke Classical School was opened. The
new YMCA opened on the site later occupied by the American Theater. There was a new
railroad station-the one replaced in 1950. Roanoke entered organized baseball. St. Andrew's
Cathedral was constructed. There was a new synagogue. Hotel Roanoke continued to grow in
size and culinary fame. Evidence of the expanding N. & W. came in the construction of an
additional general office building directly west of its modern six-story structure. The Stone
Printing and Manufacturing Company moved into its large quarters on north Jefferson Street m
1907. The boards covering the creek which flows under Campbell A venue from First Street, S.
W., were replaced later with a permanent brick viaduct, thus removing a flood menace.

A distillery was opened. A power dam was built on the river just below town, assuring a more
dependable supply of electricity. The Roanoke Iron Works also was founded in 1907. That year
saw the opening of Highland Park School. Jefferson Hospital opened, the Strickland Building
(Mountain Trust Bank) was built and garages and filling stations began to appear.

The South Roanoke street car and the new automobiles took recreation seekers to new
Mountain Park whose loop-the-loop, casino, dance pavilion and bowling alleys operated on the
lower slopes of Mill Mountain near the south end of Jefferson Street. Building permits and
assessed valuations increased each year through 1907. Joel H. Cutchin was elected mayor
every two years from 1900 to 1912.