Historical Collections of Virginia / History of Roanoke County / History of Botetourt County

1845. Early days in two VA counties, Roanoke and Botetourt -- encompassing the Cities of Roanoke and Fincastle, as well as the past and/or present communities of Amsterdam, Ironto, Cave Spring, Elliston, Hollins College, Vinton, Bent Mountain, Catawba, Lithia, Oriskany, Eagle Rock, Glen Wilton, Hollins, Blue Ridge, Cloverdale, Daleville, Buchanan, Salem, and Troutville -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this new 88 page booklet. The spiral-bound booklet is comprised of excerpts from three rare vintage books: Historical Collections of Virginia by Henry Howe (1845); Virginia, a Guide to the Old Dominion, a WPA Writer's Program publication (1940), and Roanoke, Story of County and City, a 1942 WPA project. It is printed single-sided, with the print size adjusted to fit the 8 1/2 x 11" 60# paper. The front cover is a parchtex card stock, protected with a vinyl sheet. Roanoke County wasn't formed until 1838, so the Howe account is brief. The Botetourt section is a bit longer, and explores Fincastle, the county seat, Dagger's Springs, the Dunkards (or Tunkars) church in Amsterdam; the story of women and children captured by Indians; and the life of General Andrew Lewis, commander of Virginia Troups at the Battle of Point Pleasant. The majority of the booklet is taken from the WPA books. The 1940 book describes Points of Interest in the City of Roanoke, such as the American Viscose Corp. Plant, the Municipal Market and the Norfolk and Western Shops. The 1942 book excerpts give accounts of early explorers and settlers, like John Peter Stalling, Malcolm Campbell and Mark Evans; Fighters on the Frontier; the American Revolution; formation of Botetourt County; Some Interesting Early Criminal cases, like the woman who poured molten pewter in her sleeping husband's mouth; the Frontier Way of Life; Pioneer Businessmen; Taverns and Hotels (Whiskey Bumbo was a favorite drink, and hotel rooms were usually shared); Illnesses and their unusual remedies; Rev. Dabney Wharton's parish and other early churches; Representatives in the National Congress; political history of the country as related to the Roanoke area; Birth of Roanoke County with Salem as the County Seat; Various Medicinal Springs in the area; the Rev. Urias Powers and other early ministers; First marriages in area churches; Salem's first undertaker; Duels; Sectional Line Deepens as Slavery issue goes unresolved; The War Between the States; Pillaging in Roanoke; Roanoke College and Hollins Institute; Hunter's Raid; Soldiers of Roanoke; Reconstruction; Quilting Bees, Dances and other entertainments; Principal farmers in 1877; Old Lick and Big Lick merge as Roanoke; Importance of the Railroad; Wild land speculation and a snowstorm that restored sanity; Flood of 1898; Roanoke soldiers in the Spanish-American War; Newfangled Automobiles and such; Knox Martin, Virginia's pioneer aviator; Eminent Citizens; Newspapers; and much more. There are a several of illustrations in the book, including a map of Roanoke County, the County Courtouse, an aerial view of "The Magic City"and the Administraton building at Roanoke College. . Limited Edition Reprint. Spiral/Comb . New/No Jacket. Illus. by Henry Howe. 8.5" x 11". Private Press.