Category Archives: Business

Check In to the Past: Blacksburg’s Historic Hotels and Motels (1950 to 1980s)

As the quiet town of Blacksburg grew through the mid-20th century, so did the need for modern places for visitors to stay. Early Blacksburg was a small, rural community where travelers often relied on boarding houses or small inns. But with two major changes—the rise of automobile travel and the rapid expansion of VPI (nowContinue reading “Check In to the Past: Blacksburg’s Historic Hotels and Motels (1950 to 1980s)”

Black Family of Blacksburg

According to Virginia and Virginians – Eminent Virginians, Montgomery County, 1606-1888, by Dr. R.A. Brock, Society of the Virginia Historical Society Harvey Black, M.D. Objects of Harvey Black Found at the American Civil War Museum in Richmond Photo from the American Civil War Museum in Richmond showing a group of Confederate veterans. The back notesContinue reading “Black Family of Blacksburg”

Beauty Shops of Blacksburg

List of business collected from Telephone Directories 1963 & 1964 phone directories: Betty Ann Beauty Shop, Prices Fork Rd; Blacksburg Beauty Shoppe, 714 North Main St; Fashionette Beauty Salon, Jackson St, Ruth Harmon & Judy Hodges; Laura’s Beauty Salon, 803 Progess St; Marsay Beauty Shoppe, 106 Faculty; Stylette Beauty Salon, Bessie S. Sanderson, 300 EastContinue reading “Beauty Shops of Blacksburg”

Shopping in Blacksburg: Western Auto Store

The Western Auto Store in Blacksburg stood on the east side of North Main Street, between College Avenue and Jackson Street, with another location in Christiansburg. After World War II, it became a vital resource for the community, much like the Sears Catalog store. Each year before Christmas, children excitedly studied the toy catalog, theirContinue reading “Shopping in Blacksburg: Western Auto Store”

Restaurant Series: Hokie House

The Hokie House, an iconic bar at 322 North Main Street since the late 1960s, is known for its burgers and beer. It started as Mrs. Ryman’s lunch counter and later belonged to George Willard. In the basement, head barber Stewart Michael Ribble was popular with the VPI/VT Corps of Cadets, often drawing long lines of first-year cadets.