The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-01
R|ORER
R
siDidSMorc THAI Ally Other One ne
S$H Man to Make Roanoke
MI City. f
q cTl0Ns Of T. Lo 9. I : AGO 4 GO
EsBuilt6 and Presented Her First
B Theatre togtl,c5 Growing
IiI88 58f NJ City,
Especial Is THE Times Dippatoh.)

sss 9sa Special to The Times Dispatcli)
a II OANO is ~ Al, March Sl.rhc death
F.tlic late Ferdinand Rorci', who had
III sillorosto4do with making Big Lick, u city
;sS tllnn any other orc man. has recalled
many rccolections 8. Ills big henrtedncss.
!ssSA stated In Il dispatch iii ,rllc Times
ssSl ispntcl he ut one time owned 1900
stlcrcs that Is iyow closely built III, III the
" o. Roanoke. lc built a hotel here,
fssllelped Il to promote the establishment OF
n newspaper, built a theatre (tllc frsOi
sssssniid equipped .N With. theatrical scenery,
#Hsssy lie first ever seen iii big Lick, and vas
VAR foremost III calling attention. to- he many
sE dvantagcs possessed by Big Lick. s5
SFsg The writer was n yisitor5to tho growing
S55 town at that. time, coming here with all
"a ANA eur theatrical troupe from Lynchburg
sSSSS u open the theatre. The boys played two
nights. and when they went to see MIR
.sgNS IsOrer about the bill were told that they
lowed N him nothing ]. III
ssstSs n afterwards presented the hall to the
gsss and II was he first city HALL lie
also gavo q lot on which the First Pres
iii. ny erlan1 Church was erected, and wien
$$5sst he funeral took place last Sunday, the
Jpn 3 or, Rev., w. C.. Campbell, paid a
SasssDeautiful tribute to tho dead. ~ lie said
ssssshe felt like dropping 4 tear on the face
MOI the dead = that Mr.. Rorer WAS the first
SSsst welcome lin to Roanoke, and he
s5ssSS never knew q ,nan Will, a bigger heart
ssst 1t er doing so much for the city, Mr.
ssai Ilorer was treated badly In q real estate
deal, and with the statement that he
would never return to Roanoke alive he
sss3 went ito Blnefied, where he remained
AaintIl lie went to Hot Springs. q rk where
fsSt he died. 4S5 IS 35.i
,Sss the Rorcr Hall. was the Trout
stss JIouse, which was kept by tho father
sSss of Hon. H. 8. Trout. Mr.. Trout's hotel
WAS noted far and wide as furnishing
Ssssl he best meal that could DO gotten. He
6ss3s rs also d big hearted man. and never
s39turned q hungry man from his door lie
WAS the soul OF honor. and never lacked
INA ors con idence In his fcllowman It Is
SAID q OF him that often when parties
asked him the amount OF their bill, he
say: !. Pay what you ii think Is
& Ight.'',3 5s5t M 8 Fl; IS st5 b
site OF the Trout House is now oc-
BBss@scupicd by the Ponce de Leon Hotel, and
y Sthe road that ran by the side OF the Inn
nv Is one OF the busiest streets OF the city.
iSsssSSJ Ior.S III s. Trout, while In q reminiscent
$aniood several weeks ago, remarked on the
sffs;ltanged conditions sinceShe was n boy.
8si "a said what Is now Commerce street,
HI Is the main road to the South. He had
Seen many times great droves ofsslavcs
rass along some in fetters, and time
anu time again. cruelty treated by the
,S slss.. se drivers He said one OF the slaves
tSEsHroke the nanaclcs, and q driver TOOK
s!!a1lim over TO a blacksmith shop about
\ s}Ellere the largest church4i the city now
sSSSSstnnds. 9{sssF 5Y5s sS s3 8t Il s.
~ want you, said the slave-driver,
aFf.. to 4 fix these irons on this niger
sss II viii see you Ii, hill first, was the
I:srfpiy OF the old smith.
,sAEss The negroes were fattencd up in North
s sr1 Virginia, and when spring opened
ssstrarched south &
fgsass Air. 81 Trout says he also saw great
SSs3droves OF cattle. sheep, and turkeys. pass
ING INK along the road. and 1t Is difficult
'Sss for hin, TO realize what a change time
SSsss3tias worked 81
sss$ The Roanoke Clay Manufacturing Conf
$x;,any, which was organized some time
Az q go, " now haa It's big plant In operation
smear Blue Ridge Springs. The plant has
'Hsf, capac city OF 40 600 bricks per day. They
Gina nufacturc vitrifled paving, sidc-wall
Sstling brick, and all kinds Of paving
Ct brick Mr.. Ell. TDeWine, the general
a. n anager OF the company, Is an expert
55S brickman, and he is very enthusiastic
!sSpycr the III brick. s.
lg;fsf555 Miss Alice Fleming, the leading lady
10 the Ryan Stock Company who has
Ifbeens Ill here for weeks, will leave
lsSaturday might for Richmond to Join
ISfhe company. She has become quite
1fnyorite in Roanoke, and had many callers
l8dllrinc her illness. 5{ygl 5 's5ttg