Radford

John W. Barksdale

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780738544427
• eBook ISBN: 9781439633717
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Radford, Virginia, is a city with a remarkable history. Native Americans settled the area long before Europeans moved into the region in the mid-18th century. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad created a line in 1854 that linked Lynchburg with Bristol. Central Depot, which later became Radford, was a midway point on that rail line. Radford was established as a city in 1892, and two Virginia governors, James H. Tyler and John N. Dalton, have claimed Radford as their home. Radford Normal School, an institute for teacher training, was established in 1913 and has grown to become Radford University. Glencoe Museum, the Radford Heritage Foundation, and the citizens of Radford have all contributed to this collection of photographs. Images of America: Radford is a tribute to the rich and interesting stories of the citys past.

Four

BUSINESS

One of Radford’s earliest images, this photograph of Roberts Store was taken around 1880. Established by George E. Roberts, the store was located in the east end of town in the area now occupied by the east end business district. (Courtesy of the Radford Heritage Foundation.)

The Hotel Shere is decorated in patriotic garb at the start of the 20th century. The hotel was constructed in 1893, a year after the city’s incorporation, and was owned and operated by M. Goldberg. (Courtesy of the Radford Heritage Foundation.)

The Farmers and Merchants Bank building, seen around 1900, still stands on the corner of Main Street and Third Avenue and was used as a bank until mid-century. Notice the trolley tracks and wagon. (Courtesy of the Radford Heritage Foundation.)

The Central Machine and Electrical Repair Shop was located in the west end at the time of this c. 1906 photograph. A variety of products, ranging from electrical motors to lawn mowers, were serviced by this business. A close look at the image reveals a couple of shy boys peering from behind the glass barrel on the left. (Courtesy of the Ken and Jane Farmer Collection.)

This early-20th-century image shows the office and maintenance facilities of the Radford WaterPower Company, located in the west end. Radford’s water, electric power, and trolley transportation were privately owned until 1922, when the utility company was purchased by the city. (Courtesy of the Harvey/Ingles Archives.)

Many entrepreneurs were successful in starting small businesses in Radford at the dawn of the 20th century because of the influx of people moving to the area to work for the railroad, foundry, veneer plant, and other industries that had sprung up. This small grocery store was built by Max Rupe in 1902. (Courtesy of the Radford Heritage Foundation.)

Max Rupe opened the New Racket Store in the west end of town about 1910. During this period, the term racket store was used to describe a variety store that sold common household items. It is unlikely that Rupe had any tennis rackets in stock! (Courtesy of the Radford Heritage Foundation.)

This early-1900s scene provides a good perspective on how simple it was to get around in Radford before the advent of the automobile. The city trolley passes the West End Hotel on its way to the foundry. Cars were rare luxuries at this point; however, the trolley system could move citizens almost anywhere in town. (Courtesy of Mayor Thomas L. Starnes.)

By the time this photograph was taken in 1928, the West End Hotel had been renamed the Delp Hotel. The building also housed a bank and the Dodge Brothers Dealership. The advertisement on the brick wall in the lower left corner is for the Victory Six, a model introduced in 1928. Two years later, the Dodge Brothers motor vehicle company’s name was changed to sim...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - EARLY HISTORY
• Two - THE RAILROAD
• Three - INDUSTRY
• Four - BUSINESS
• Five - EDUCATION
• Six - BUILDINGS, CHURCHES, AND HOMES
• Seven - PEOPLE
• Eight - TOWN AND COUNTRY