Evening star., 1951-01-07
Readers
Clearing House
Conducted by BETSY CASWELL
ROANOKE.
(Fron, E. B. c., ArIington.)


To Mrs. Y. T. NJ, Falls Church:
I was interested to learn that
you are moving to Roanoke and
would like information about the
city. 1t was my home before I
was married and I have just re-
Gently spent two years there. 7
love it so much that it gives me
real happiness to write to you
about it. 1t is a city of 100000
population, located in the valley
of the Roanoke River and sur
rounded by a rim of beautiful
mountains.
The Blue Ridge toward Bedford
and Lynchburg, and the Ale
ghanies in the other direction.
Within a few miles of the city are
drives as beautiful as anywhere
in the United States. In fact,
I have been from coast to coast
by both air and car and haven't
found any scenery that I con-
sidered more beautiful than our
Southwest Virginia scenery. The
winters are milder than here and
the summers are hot. ! don't know
why it should be so hot there be-
cause the Roanoke River isn't
large enough to affect the hu-
midity much, and the mountains
are all around to make it cool.
But I believe it is hotter than it
Is up here, certainly it Is as hot.
The people are lovely Southern
people, and life moves at a slower
tempo than here, which I find de-
lightful. There are church-going
people and there are many
churches in the city. Practically
all the Protestant denominations
and three Catholic churches. Also
the people love flowers, and there
are great many garden clubs in
the city. One of the finest hotels
in the whole country is there-Ho-
tel Roanoke. You will find the
dining room there a breath of the
Old South.
There are two other nice hotels,
the Patrick Henry and the Ponce
de Leon. The latter has a large
spring in the basement. and the
manager keeps live mountain trout
there so he can serve them
straight from the water to the
frying pan. incidentally, many of
the downtown buildings have
springs in the basement. which
complicates matters during the
heavy summer storms. A beauti-
full new library is now under con-
struction in Elmwood Park, the old
library being one of the Oldest
homes in Roanoke County. There
is a mountain right in the city,
Mill Mountain. At one time an
inclined railway went to the top,
but that was discontinued some
years ago. There is a good road
going to the top, however.
Roanoke has been known as the
magic city of Virginia because its
growth was so rapid after the Nor
folk & Western Railway located
it's shops and Offices there. Incl
dentally, the N&W is one of the
best railroads in the country.
Originally. there were salt beds
where the city was built, and the
place was known as Big Lick. The
Indians of that region salted their
cattle there.
Last year the merchants of
Roanoke decided to change the
name Magic City" to "Star City
of the South" and they erected a
star on the highest point of Mill
Mountain. This star, the largest
one in the country. is lighted
every night and can be seen for
miles around.
The water is delicious. For
years Crystal Spring supplied the
whole city, but lately since the
city has grown larger the water
supply has been supplemented by
water from CorvinS cave.
There are fine stores there, two
large department stores and many
smaller dress shops. Nelson's
hardware store is the prettiest
and best hardware store I have
ever seen.
There are four white hospitals
and one colored in the city. All
of them are good, but I am partial
to the Roanoke, built on the side
Of Mill Mountain. That is where
I'd want to go it I were sick.
Housing is not so tight as up here.
Rent is high in the new apart
ment houses. but many people
have apartments in their homes.
These are more reasonable. I be-
lieve that rent for houses Is less
than up here. The best sections
are South Roanoke and Raleigh
Court. I prefer the latter, as it is
more open. since South Roanoke
is built up into the edge of the
mountains. But you can't go
wrong in choosing either one. In
buying a house you get lot more
for your money than here. I could
go on all night. but I guess I'd
better stop. If you want to ask
any questions write to me through
RCH.
X X X X
WORCESTER, MASS?
(Frona Mrs. X. F. A., Falls Church,
I wonder if any one can give
me information about Worcester,
Mass? We are being transferred
there in three weeks. I am par
ticularly interested in housing and
primary schools, and the cost of
living as compared to Washing
RrNI