Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 4, 1995 TAG: 9504040062
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WILLIAM R. COOK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
As Jim Fulgham suggests in his book "There's Nothing To Do In Roanoke" - a misnomer, as he points out - there are many things to do and see in the Roanoke Valley area. The following program would, in my opinion, offer a variety of additional activities. When added to existing exhibits, they would attract more visitors, and over time help develop Roanoke into a tourist destination.
The Transportation Museum. It needs to continue focusing on its heritage as a railroad museum. Through monumental effort and dedication, it has assembled an outstanding collection of railroad equipment and memorabilia, and also a collection of antique cars and trucks, streetcars, buses and fire equipment. I suggest that the nonrailroad items be somewhat dispersed, so that the separate collections become attractions in their own right but still under the umbrella of the Transportation Museum.
Streetcars. Roanoke had an outstanding streetcar system until the late 1940s, when it was discontinued and dismantled. To tie the Transportation Museum and City Market area together, I suggest a streetcar loop along Norfolk Avenue and Campbell or Salem avenues. Many progressive cities have reinstalled and are operating streetcars as tourist attractions.
The hour is late, but it is still possible to acquire original Roanoke streetcars. A 1926 "lightweight" car is owned by the Transportation Museum. Though in poor condition, it could be brought back to life. A 1929 "master unit" car is in existence in the area, in better shape and available. Another "master unit" car was taken several years ago to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, where it will be preserved and brought back to life.
A maintenance and storage barn for streetcars, a tourist attraction in its own right, could be built west of the Transportation Museum. The bus collection could be displayed in this area also, to further illustrate the history of Roanoke's public-transportation system.
A Fire Apparatus and Fire Station Museum. Roanoke is fortunate that its Fire Station No. 1 has been preserved pretty much as built in the days of horse-drawn equipment. Equipment operated by the Roanoke Fire Department throughout the years could be displayed. I have heard that a steam-powered, horse-drawn pumper originally owned by the Roanoke Fire Department still exists in the area. Could it be loaned, under proper safeguards, to the project?
A Roanoke brass-era fire truck, an extremely rare 1918 tower truck, is still in existence. It is slowly rusting away and in very bad shape, but is available. With adequate funding and a lot of hard work, new life could be breathed back into it. Other Roanoke fire equipment rusting away at the Transportation Museum, and other sites in and around Roanoke, could be refinished and displayed indoors.
Fire Station No. 1 contains a very rare item, the antique Gamewell alarm system. Modern communications have made this system obsolete. It should be preserved, however, as part of Roanoke's fire-service history.
An antique car and truck display. The Transportation Museum has a number of vehicles that could form the basis of a separate display. Other antique vehicles probably could be made available on a rotating-loan basis by local antique-vehicle owners, if proper safeguards were assured. I personally would be willing to loan my vehicle occasionally for indoor display if its safety could be assured.
As a site for the antique-vehicle museum, I suggest the street-level floor space in the parking garage just east of Fire Station No. 1.
Additional attractions to reinforce existing downtown attractions.
How about reopening the old Boiler Room "watering hole" in the basement of the old Ponce de Leon Hotel for visitors, downtown workers and the general public?
The Farmers' Market needs reinforcement and enlargement to assure its survival. It is an important part of Roanoke's history. How many of us remember Bent Mountain potatoes and cabbage, half-runner beans and other fresh fruits and vegetables that are still available in season on the market?
How about another try at establishing a microbrewery? It could be called the Virginia Brewing Co., with one of its products "Old Virginia Beer" to remind everyone that Roanoke once had its own brewery.
Another must stop on a downtown walking tour is the well-known Texas Tavern. I single out this establishment to reinforce the point that nostalgia is a very important part of tourism. The Texas Tavern building inside and out is pretty much as it was when it opened in the early 1930s. It is not unusual to see visitors having their pictures taken inside or outside the building.
Another possible downtown attraction would be a reconstruction of Roanoke's original post office. The Big Lick Post Office, on the site the city offered for the 29th Division Memorial, would not be too far from its original location.
How about a new cable-car system up Mill Mountain? Another possible attraction for a self-conducted tour would be the old Fishburn mansion on 13th Street, restored to its original residential use and opened as a tourist attraction to illustrate how the affluent lived in the "good old days" of Roanoke.
The above examples only scratch the surface. Other points of interest throughout the Roanoke Valley, including in Salem, Roanoke County and Vinton, should also be included in any self-conducted tour. I am confident that others who live in or near, and are familiar with, the Roanoke Valley and its amenities could provide good ideas for additional attractions.
Are my suggested attractions achievable? You bet. I can provide successful examples for practically every one.
With the reopening of the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, the return of N&W engine 611 for permanent display at the Transportation Museum and the recent opening of Explore Park, a powerful starting point is presented for Roanoke to firmly establish itself as a tourist destination.
The program I have outlined would require a total community commitment, and the participation both financially and physically of the public and private sectors. Special-interest groups and individuals could contribute time and expertise on individual restoration projects. Community commitment is especially important at this time when we are experiencing fiscal upheaval on the federal and state governmental levels.
The program would take a number of years to complete. But the rewards to the community, in terms of tourist dollars pumped into the local economy, would be substantial.
William R. Cook was manager of several Virginia and Florida municipalities, including Blacksburg, where he now resides in retirement.
by CNB