january/february 2015

centeredon

community.family.you.

For over 40 years the Virginia Gentlemen, a local men’s a cappella group, have been delighting audiences with their barbershop-style harmonies. They perform in concerts and contests throughout the year, singing varied and diverse programs. According to their website, www.roanokebarbershopharmony.org, the group performs a wide variety of music: “ E v e r y t h i n g from show tunes to big band favorites, pop tunes to do-wop, patriotic songs to spirituals, and of course, b a r b e r s h o p classics.” Their mission is to offer men of all ages “fun, fellowship, and harmony,” and the group does just that. They meet every Monday evening at College Lutheran Church, to rehearse. In February, however, they have a very special mission: Singing Valentines. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Virginia Gentlemen don tuxedos, red satin shirts and white bow ties, and travel throughout Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, and Botetourt County in groups of four (quartets) to serenade lucky recipients. Dr. Jim Sherman, who lives in South Roanoke and practices pediatric pulmonology at Carilion, joined the Virginia Gentleman with his son several years ago, and is the group’s current president. Both Shermans are enthusiastic about the Virginia Gentlemen and the Singing Valentine program. What’s not to like? As Dr. Sherman says, “The music is wholesome, the harmonies make you have goose-bumps, and the atmosphere is welcoming. We have loved being part of the group.” The Singing Valentines are special for everyone involved. Dr. Sherman tells the story of a young woman they surprised with a singing Valentine from her husband a few years ago. This woman had been recently married and she and her new husband had decided not to

do anything for Valentine’s Day because they felt like they needed to rein in expenses after a big wedding. After the Virginia Gentlemen arrived at her workplace and began to sing, the woman simply dissolved into happy tears. As Dr. Sherman tells it, by the end of the second song, the lead singer was so moved, that he began to cry too!

That serenade ended with hugs all around and a memorable experience for everyone. “I tell husbands,” says Sherman, “it costs you a little up front, but it pays you a lot later.” “ W h e n we show up for someone, they are almost always surprised and wondering how to respond. Then, as we get into the second song,

they realize that these four guys are singing a message sent from someone who really loves them and wants to make their day special.” Singing Valentines are a creative and unique way to bring fun and romance to someone’s holiday and you can feel good about the money spent. As if the idea of a Singing Valentine weren’t already fabulous enough, a portion of the money raised goes to support two important causes: the John Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund which aids local college-bound high school students, and The Harmony Foundation which provides grants that promote vocal music in school and communities. Interested in purchasing a singing Valentine? Orders will be taken through Valentine’s Day. You can arrange yours by contacting Mr. Ed Burke at (540) 977-0472. For $50, a tuxedoed quartet will be dispatched to your valentine’s place of work, school, or home on either February 13th or 14th (keep in mind that Valentine’s Day falls

Love is in the Air: Singing Valentines by The Virginia Gentlemenby Noelle Milam

— Continued on page 10

Jordan Truesdell, Jim Sherman, Ben Sherman, and David Lloyd (l-r) made up a Virginia Gentlemen quartet known as Ben and the Boyz. Photo courtesy of Jim Sherman

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She Said...Lillian King Meidlingereditor, right brainlillian@southroanokecircle.com761.0728

Lisa Boschen Bowersadvertising executive, left brainlisa@southroanokecircle.com353.2380

Amy Takacs, Creative Outletgraphic designeramy@creative-outlet.com

Johnny Meidlingerinternet kung fu

Jill Hufnagel & Brent Stevensfounders, creative consultants

The South Roanoke Circle2517 S. Jefferson StreetRoanoke VA 24014540.353.2380

southroanokecircle.com

Our intent is to provide a neighborhood publication that celebrates community and fosters connection among neighbors. In so doing, we seek to strengthen the neighborhood bond, to encour-age our children to share their voices, and to nurture a future of collective growth. Finally, we wish to share in the discovery of the people and places that make this neighborhood thrive.

~We reserve the right to refuse publication of any material we deem unsuitable for this venue and/or our readership.

copyright 2015The South Roanoke Circle, LLC

all rights reserved.

Growing up, I was markedly shy, a telltale introvert. Every summer at the beach, for instance, my sister would “find me a friend,” as my nose was safely wedged into a book to avoid putting myself out there. As an adult, though, I’ve discovered the magic of fresh, out-of -the-box conversations. While I savor the shorthand and ease of talking with friends I’ve known for ages, there’s nothing quite like the possibility that bubbles up in a conversation with someone new. Whether in an airport lounge, at the blueberry patch, or at a conference, there’s something to be said for that crisp first sink below the surface. It’s the full-of-who-knows-what element of a tête-à-tête with someone new. Perhaps it’s a first meeting; or maybe it’s the first time you’ve settled in long enough to move past the glossy surfaces. Either way: I’m drawn to these feet up, settling in, thankfully-we’ve-moved-past-the-minutiae convos because it’s all new. Every bit of it. And while I’ve been accused of interviewing people—given the repeat accusation, perhaps there’s merit there—I would hold that I’m genuinely interested in high-tailing it past the banal in order to really get to know people. A noble story I tell myself, for sure. In a shared space (like our streets & sidewalks), I’ve found we tend to lean on close fences. And in turn end up conversationally fenced-in. While in a conversation with someone I don’t yet know, my curiosity is still intact. Without a shared history, I’m unsure if we sit on the same side of the political spectrum, if he skews trickle or glass floweth over, her thoughts on immigration and allowance. When my own curiosity is a window flung open, the trajectory of our conversation has so many more turns and meanders. I’m more in the moment, and so is the back and forth between us. From there is the chance to hear fresh perspectives, ways of living, someone else’s “givens” that are the very artifacts of others’ worlds. And my own. To that point, I get to listen in on the self I’m putting forward these days. What topics do I circle? What do I disclose? What territory do I claim and beliefs do I hold way out in front in this novel interaction? Who am I saying I am? And more importantly: how? There have been times I’ve heard myself talking about lowest common denominator rubbish that I don’t even want to think about, much less eat up air time fueling. Dear God; I’m 44 years old after all. I’m rarely intrigued in a “tell me more” kind of way when we’re talking weather, meds, and test scores. Other times, I’ve noticed my own values surfacing. Pieces of my own story I hold closest to my heart: growing up working class, being a first generation college student, living on the wrong side of the tunnel. While there were years—make that decades—when I would have avoided the clunky first passes that are the hallmark of getting to know someone, these days I find myself looking for opportunities to navigate said clunkiness to bore down under it all and into a place of curiosity, connection, and, with any luck: to widen my circle of friends. — JH

Newlyweds Courtney and Donald Deeds sip on coffee for

two at local hangout Sweet Donkey Coffee House.

Photos by Marissa Yi,Bella Muse Photography

Romancing the Cup

3

It just occurred to me that some people born in the year 2000 will be getting their learner’s permits this year so they can drive about town. Good golly. It’s yet another reminder of how quickly time passes, and how long it’s been since I was that age. Just the other day, while my thirteen year-old Noah was playing Trivia Crack on his phone, he asked me, “Who is Stevie Wonder?” What? How can someone not know who Stevie Wonder is? Isn’t it just a given, from listening to the radio and the world around us, that you know who Stevie Wonder is? Well…no, the same way that some Kanye West fans made it obvious on Twitter that they were not familiar with Paul McCartney. Commenters were aghast! Honestly, though, if you’re a Beatles fan you’re going to tune your radio, your XM, or your playlist to stations that favor that style of music; but a teenager may not stumble into that. They are more likely to hear a snippet of a Beatles or Stevie Wonder song in a commercial, or played by a marching band at a halftime show for that matter. I don’t despair too much over this. It’s not like I expect thirty years from now my future grandchildren will be downloading Lil Wayne tracks to their dad’s delight. Something else will come along. Artists come and go, many more quickly than others. Still, a quick Wikipedia check taught me that Lil Wayne had his first platinum record in 1999. Wow–sixteen years ago–a year before those new drivers were even born! That’s a pretty long music career. I sometimes try to get my son to appreciate, or at least recognize, the music I listened to at his age, but I don’t push it. Much of it has not exactly aged well or remained in my current purview (sorry King Crimson!). And I remember all too well, growing up in our tiny, one TV house, dreading Lawrence Welk night. I could have retreated to my room, and I’m sure by my high school years I did just that, but when I was younger, we often watched TV as a family. Color TV was still a novel experience in our house, so it’s just what we did. If the evening fare included the “Champagne Lady” Norma Zimmer, then I endured it. Wunnerful, wunnerful! Maybe it was the price I had to pay to stay up late on Fridays for The Rockford Files. I wonder if Noah feels the same way when we listen to our playlists. I know he’d like to seek asylum at a friend’s house if we sing along to U2–or anything at all for that matter (Lisa), or crank Ozzy’s Over the Mountain (me) just to see if anyone is paying attention. My new car came with free SiriusXM for one year, which is ingenious marketing by the way; I’m sure I will renew now that

it’s part of my daily experience. For the past few weeks I’ve been hooked on the “Chill” station (#53), which features downtempo electronic music–think somewhere between an all-night rave and the background music at Metro. OK, no, it’s pretty much the Metro music. Anyway, I had a brief moment of panic, as I was driving swim team carpool, that what I was subjecting the kids to on the Chill channel was the modern-day equivalent of WHUD, the “Beautiful Music” station that my dad played in the car. It was round-the-clock Mantovani with other symphonic interpretations of popular songs. What have I become? Tan slacks and loafers! So I looked at the XM channel card to review my options and I was shocked to find that there actually IS a beautiful music channel (#69 - “Escape”, oddly grouped with the jazz genre). Flipped to it briefly and–sure enough–Nothing but strings: no vocals, not a beat in the house, as Mantovani filled the air and blanketed me and the kids like the afghan your grandmother knit while she listened to Your Hit Parade. I was suddenly in the back seat of my parents’ Datsun 710, listening to WHUD and begging

for something…a n y t h i n g ! . . . m o r e contemporary. I would have settled for Anne Murray at that point. Cut back to the present and I realize, “Hey! I’m not the oldest coot listening to satellite radio if there is still a market for this channel.” “Dad. Dad! Hey, Dad!!” I hear coming from the passenger seat…oh, right, time to change the station. Let’s flip to #23. Maybe these kids will enjoy the Grateful Dead channel. Ironic choice, I guess, since a quick Wikipedia check shows that the Grateful

Dead formed two years before I was born. I suppose no matter what I do, I’ll be showing my age, and the last thing my passengers want would be if I switched to K92 and rapped along with “I’m So Fancy”. Probably best if I just hum “Sugar Magnolia”…in my head. Maybe a century from now the satellites will still be broadcasting all of it, from Perry Como to Jerry Garcia to Iggy Azalea. One great thing about music is that the choices are infinite, and in a few years, when these kids are behind the wheel, they can pick whatever channel they want. Just keep the volume down. Look both ways at intersections. Never try to beat a train at a railroad crossing. Absolutely do not drink and drive. And for everyone’s sake, please no Mantovani.

Jefferson Street Realistby David S. Bowers

Stop by Tinnell’s and ask about our rapidly growing Wine of the

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Rates, Resume and References Upon Request

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ADeFe462@students.rcps.info

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For tickets, call 540-345-2550 | www.operaroanoke.org

Find Us On , , , , , .

CINDERELLARossini ’s

Friday, March 20 | 7:30 pm

Sunday, March 22 | 3:00 pm

Shaftman Performance Hall

at Jefferson Center

Student Tickets are ALWAYS FREE{Subject to Availability}

For info: operaroanoke.org/sempre-libera-2

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Children Laughing.

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In 2011, Amy Chua published her best-selling book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Parents and educators snapped up copies. Ms. Chua, a Chinese-American mother of two, was on all of the morning television shows extolling the virtues of more aggressive and demanding parenting techniques. There was an arrogance to her message and frequent comments such as “I want my children to be well rounded” or “Her children are nothing but automatons” followed the author everywhere. But negative comments aside, most traditional measures of parenting success indicated her children were quite accomplished. As parents and educators, we worried whether our children could compete on a new world stage. The effect Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother had on education policymakers was to exacerbate our already substantial concern that our schooling and parenting were failing our children. The naysayers piled on, asserting that we were “a nation at risk”, at risk because our children were “not able to compete on a global playing field.” “Even the Finns make our schools look like abject failures” on international comparisons. “This century will be the Chinese century” and “It is the end of the American dynasty.” And so on. Our response was to further increase the demands we place on our students. Kindergarten became first grade. Public schools now offer preschool programs for four year-olds. Ninth graders take college-level Advanced Placement courses and graduation from high school now requires more math and science than ever before. The thought being that we must “out-China” China if America is to remain great. I just returned from a ten-day trip to China during which I visited eight different schools in seven days. North Cross, like many schools and universities in the United States, has become attractive to Chinese students interested in an American style education. My trip was ostensibly about formalizing our growing relationship with several Chinese education groups, but what I really looked forward to was seeing Chinese schools and speaking with Chinese educators about the issues they see facing Chinese students. Among my many questions was why an American education is so attractive to the Chinese when, in many ways, educators at home were trying to imitate the rigor and demands of the Chinese system. It seems that many successful Chinese see the American educational system as exemplary because of the freedom of expression and creative thought that can be frequently found in our classrooms. Chinese businessmen recognize that real life questions do not always present two courses of action, an obvious correct response and one equally obvious incorrect response. They realize that an education that teaches students to choose a best response from among several correct courses of action will benefit their children. They are willing to forego some of the academic rigor of Chinese classrooms for the opportunity to have their children become creative and thoughtful. Repeatedly, I saw school mission

statements that emphasized creativity, collaboration, and originality, only to speak with principals that reported a struggle in matching these mission statements to actual educational practices. Cultural expectations and parenting practices made it difficult for them to focus on these “softer” goals. As a result, many wealthier parents choose to send their children to the United States for their education or to American educational programs in China in order to get the educational results they value most. So it appears the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and, with this understanding, we need to be sure to incorporate the best educational practices from around the world while at the same time making sure we do not throw our own unique educational advantage out with the bath water. Mixed metaphors aside, we’d do well to remember that the term “nation at risk” came from a 1983 Department of Education publication concerned with our educational system not producing students able to compete with the threat of a growing Japanese economy. Of course, we all remember that our much-maligned educational system of the late 70’s and early 80’s somehow managed to groom the collective creative genius that produced the digital revolution. While we need to remain aware of our global competitors, I am confident that our educational system has the flexibility required to improve and produce the creative force necessary to remain a world leader for generations to come. Dr. Christian Proctor has been Headmaster of North Cross School for three years and has over 23 years of experience in education. His time in the field has been marked by creativity, innovation, and school growth. A native of Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Proctor and his wife, Ellie, have two children; Katherine, a college senior, and Andrew, a college freshman.

The Grass is Always Greener…

Education Matters by Dr. Christian Proctor

from The South Roanoke Circle

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We love our four-legged children almost as much as we love our human family members. Some of us may admit that we actually love our animals more than certain family members. We love how our pets greet us eagerly when we return home. We love their wagging tails, the soft purring, and the adoring looks from those soulful eyes. But what we don’t enjoy is the foul odor emanating from their mouths during sloppy wet kisses. Why does Fido’s breath smell? This foul odor, called halitosis, is caused by bacteria associated with plaque and tarter build-up on the teeth and gums. The very same periodontal disease process that humans experience also occurs in our animals. While we faithfully perform our daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing routine, rarely do we practice daily dental care for our pets. Veterinary wellness care has largely focused on vaccines and parasite control, yet we have ignored what hides underneath those slobbery lips. And what may be lurking there undetected could dramatically shorten your pet’s life. Imagine what your mouth would be like if you went only a few days without brushing. Now imagine refraining from brushing or flossing for the entire lifespan of your animal. Add to the mix retrieving dirty tennis balls, swimming in the lake, licking private areas, and eating stinky treats from the backyard. Yuck. It is important to remember that our animal companions have a “pack mentality” and may endure significant pain and discomfort without showing their beloved human (or “pack leader”) any outward signs. They may subtly chew their food on only one side or take a little longer to finish that bowl of kibble. They may seem tired or distant or “seem to be showing their age.” These could be warning signs of fractured, diseased, or abscessed teeth. If you have experienced any of these conditions, you know how horrible tooth disease can be. Remember that Fido cannot tell you that he is in pain. He is looking to you to be his spokesperson. Tooth and gum disease in dogs and cats is linked to an increase in heart, liver, kidney, and joint disease. Diseased teeth are a source of chronic pain or even chronic cough in animals. Take a moment to lift up Fido’s lips and look beyond the front row of incisors to the premolars and molars and check for discoloration, swollen gums, or foul odor. A dental check up should also be part of your pet’s routine veterinary exam. If a problem is discovered, your veterinarian can assess the degree of your pet’s periodontal disease, discuss treatment options, and help set a course for preventative care. A full-on dental cleaning will require your pet to be sedated. Pets will receive a full preoperative work-up, including a physical exam,

and preoperative blood work. General anesthesia can sound very scary. While Fido receives his dental cleaning and any related procedures, your veterinarian will take precautions to protect your animal, including providing intravenous fluids and using state of the art monitoring equipment. Veterinarians know that your pets are members of your family and will treat them accordingly. Most veterinary hospitals have dental x-ray and state of the art dental equipment to do oral surgery, extractions, and professional cleanings. Two-thirds of canine and feline teeth are below the gum line and can only be properly evaluated by dental radiography. Dental x-rays can reveal periodontal conditions that we cannot diagnose with visual examination alone. Dental x-rays also allow veterinarians to ensure that any extracted tooth has been completely removed. Pain management is also a top priority to ensure your pet’s comfort before, during, and after any dental procedures. Local pain control as well as anti-inflammatories and other pain medicine can be used to help Fido recover from dental procedures. Imagine undergoing a root canal or extraction without the benefit of anesthetics! Not for my babies! You must do your part so Fido doesn’t have to go through this again! Cleaning and extracting are where the veterinary work ends and yours, as caregivers, begins. Okay, so maybe he won’t let you brush those teeth every day. Don’t get your fingers bitten. Other preventative care options include dental chews, special antimicrobial mouth rinse, prescription dental food, or enzymatic water additives. It is that easy. Your veterinarian is here to help you keep your four-legged, fur-covered child with you as long as possible. Check with

your veterinarian about a preventative dental plan for your pet. Courtney has been a veterinarian at Vinton Veterinary Hospital for almost ten years. She lives in the neighborhood with her husband, Spencer; two

daughters, Elliott and Brynne; three dogs, Milla,

Spanky, and Annie; and two kitties, Bailey

and Dewars.

Pa� and Cla�Why Fido’s Bad Breath Could Be a Sign of More Serious Problems

by Courtney Wiegard

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John Squared has become a household name throughout all of South Roanoke and other parts of the Roanoke Valley. The company was created to sell shirts, hence the name John Squared Shirts, LLC. However, within about a year of its founding, the company has grown to sell short and long sleeved shirts, bumper stickers, and drink koozies. John Squared was started by two students at Patrick Henry High School (who are incidentally two of my best friends). John Baldridge is a member of the Patrick Henry soccer team and an avid outdoorsman. John Gardner is a member of the Patrick Henry baseball team and a student at the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School. Together, they formed John Squared. The company began slowly; initially, the two had the idea to start the company during the later months of 2013. Though it started as a joke or playful idea, John and John recognized the realities that their ideas could become a successful business venture. When questioned as to why they started the company, Baldridge replied, “Watching how southern clothing companies could use their love for their home in their products made us want to do the same with our own home in mind.” The southern aspect of John Squared is a testament to one of the company’s popular slogans, “Cherished Tradition”. The expedience of growth for the teenage-run company has been nothing short of impressive. “We have to be thankful for our community and the local high school students that are fans,” Gardner stated when asked how the company has expanded so well. Originally known only throughout the Patrick Henry student body, John Squared has become commonly recognized throughout other schools such as Hidden Valley, Cave Spring, Salem, and more. Huge amounts of social media support and even a sign next to Gainer Field in the Patrick Henry Stadium has aided the company’s growth. Most of all, the tight-knit South Roanoke community has fueled John Squared’s development.

Baldridge and Gardner have prided themselves on hand deliveries to all customers. With the production capabilities of Press Press Merch, a local screen-printing and embroidery company, shirts began to be made proficiently. However, sales increased heavily over time and a website became necessary to help with purchases. The use of online transactions has allowed John Squared to spread to various geographical regions. Purchases have been shipped all over; John Squared has wearers in Virginia, Alabama, Ohio, Florida, and even Washington State. When asked about how the company has changed and developed over the last year, Baldridge shared “[The company] has become more customer-oriented; trying

to make our products with all of our fans in mind.” Coming soon for John Squared Shirts will be the production of fleece jackets, which is the featured item of the “Winter Collection.” More information about new products and the company can be found online and on social media. The John Squared Twitter handle is @JohnSquaredUSA and the Instagram username is @JohnSquaredShirts. Purchases can be made at JohnSquaredShirts.com. The future is uncertain for John Squared. With the two Johns being juniors and graduating in May of 2016, the two founders

most likely will end up attending different universities. “No matter what, we plan to expand to new areas,” Gardner remarked when asked about the future endeavors for the company. For now, the two are doing their best to enlarge the company as much as possible and continue to create quality products. Seeming to never run out of ideas, Baldridge and Gardner will continue to create southern apparel as long as they can. Regardless of their other commitments, they will always find time to connect with new clients, create different products, and promote the Cherished Tradition. Christian Blackwell is currently a junior at Patrick Henry High School and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School.

John Squared Shirts, LLC: Promoting Southern Style By Christian Blackwell

Not Yer Mama’s Page

South Roanoke teenage entrepreneurs John Baldridge (left) and John Gardner (right), founders of John Squared. Photo by Madeline Cobbler

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on a Saturday this year). They will sing two love songs, in four-part harmony, and deliver your personal message along with a long stemmed rose. The Virginia Gentlemen will only be delivering singing valentines for two days, so you are encouraged to make your reservation early. Finally, a word to all musically-inclined gentlemen out there: The Virginia Gentlemen are always eager to welcome new members into the group. Their prerequisites? You must be male and be able to carry a tune. They will show you the rest. The ability to read music is helpful but not necessary. “Excellence in singing is not a requirement but a goal,” says Sherman, “Many of the chorus members are comfortable singing with others in their voice part around them, but not comfortable alone. We work on it, seek to become better and more confident, and eventually excel in quartets. It’s a friendly learning environment.” It’s also family-friendly: something fathers and sons can do together. In addition to Dr. Sherman and his son Ben, who is now a local college student, there are four other father-son duos in the group. “Here is an activity that unites a family,” Dr. Sherman points out. Now that’s an organization worth supporting.

Neighborhood Events for February

February 1-28: The Market Gallery features “Identity”, an exhibit that reveals 100 different artists’ conceptions of the

idea of identity

February 7, 10:00AM-4:00PM: 16th Annual Tons of Fun Event at Tanglewood Mall

February 7: WazUpWidis - Urban Race and Stair Challenge (Wells Fargo Building, downtown) For information visit

mountainjunkies.net/wazupwidis.htm

February 12, 5:30PM-9:00PM: Party in the Market: Downtown’s Beach Music Winter Series (Roanoke City Market Building,

downtown)

February 13-14: Virginia Gentlemen deliver Singing Valentines, call Ed Burke at 540.977.0472 to schedule yours

February 14: Train Lover’s Day at the Virginia Museum of Transportation February 16: Presidents Day, holiday for Roanoke

City Schools

February 21: Chinese New Year 2015 at the Taubman Museum of Art (downtown)

February 26 – March 1: Roanoke Children’s Theater presents EAT (It’s Not About Food)

Waste Collection Schedule

City of Roanoke

February 1: Paper Products/Brush

February 8: Bottles & Cans/Bulk

February 15: Paper Products/Brush

February 22: Bottles & Cans/Bulk

March 1: Paper Products/Brush

Continued from page 1 —

SoRo Circle March Issue Advertising Deadline:

February 16thCall Lisa at 353.2380 to reserve your space!

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Roanoke’s First Flightby Nelson Harris

Some thought it would never happen. For weeks, promoters of the Great Roanoke Fair of 1910 had been advertising the appearance of a Curtiss Aeroplane at the fairgrounds as a centerpiece for Roanoke’s most celebrated annual event. The Great Roanoke Fair’s inaugural appearance was in 1902 and occurred for many falls thereafter with various exhibits, balloon rides, excursions, horse racing, and craft shows. The fair of 1910 was billed to exceed all previous ones. Some 300 horses participated in track events and there were exhibitions of cattle, domestic arts, sheep, swine, poultry, farm machinery, canned goods, and needlework. The Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways had special trains to serve the fair for those attending from central and southwestern Virginia. The fair also boasted “scores of censored sideshows” but gambling was prohibited. There were premiums and purses totaling $20,000 ($480,000 in today’s dollars). Fair association president James Woods, however, considered the flight of a Curtiss Aeroplane to be the main attraction. Roanokers had never witnessed a powered, heavier-than-air flight before. There had been hot air balloon rides in the past but never the presence of an aeroplane. In fact, there had been only one such flight in Virginia, and that was a flight made by Orville Wright at Langley in 1909. An aeroplane had tried to fly at the state fair in Richmond in the summer of 1910 but never got off the ground, much to the disappointment of fair organizers who had to explain to those in attendance why their tickets would not be refunded! Thus, to have an aeroplane fly across the fairgrounds in Roanoke was historic indeed. The pilot was Eugene Ely, 24, of the Curtiss Aeroplane Company. Ely had flown elsewhere in exhibitions, most recently in Iowa at its state fair. His plane was loaded on a train there and shipped to Roanoke. (Early planes were disassembled, transported, and then re-assembled by the pilots.) Ely and his flying machine arrived in Roanoke by train on September 21, the second day of the fair. Attendance was record high as spectators anticipated Ely’s flight. Some even paid an additional 15 cents just to see Ely’s machine in its temporarily-erected garage near the fairground gates. Ely surveyed the fairgrounds that morning, specifically the lay of land within the horseracing track. Ely quickly became concerned. His machine needed 100 linear feet of running space to rise four feet. To clear the buildings, fence, and wires at the end of the track, he would need 300 feet of ground. The confined space within the racetrack that he was provided was not enough. Only under exceptional conditions could he lift his machine into the air in that space. (A Curtiss advance man had assured fair organizers the track’s infield was sufficient.) Nonetheless, Ely told fair organizers he would try to fly at 2:00 p.m. Crowds thronged the track area. Ely and his machine managed to get lift but only to ten feet and over a space of 100 yards. Ely had to drop the plane fearing he would flip the plane on the fairgrounds’ fence. Unbeknownst to spectators, Ely had tried to convince fair officials that he would have better flying conditions if he could take off from a surrounding hillside but they had insisted he fly within the fairgrounds’ perimeters. This proved to be a mistake. The machine needed 400 more running feet than it had. The Roanoke Times took

fair organizers to task for trying to dictate to Ely where he should fly when they knew nothing about his machine. The newspaper described the flying apparatus thusly, “[it] has about as many whims and moods and notions as an unusually pretty girl of eighteen who has been spoiled and petted all her life.” Ely noted the gentle hills of South Roanoke and told officials that if he could lift off from those heights, he was confident Roanokers would witness their first flight of an aeroplane. Fair promoters quickly acquiesced to Ely’s request and told spectators that Ely would fly the next day. At 5:40 p.m. on September 22, Eugene Ely and his Curtiss machine took off from a hill in South Roanoke just northeast of Virginia College as thousands watched from the fairgrounds. Ely was earlier concerned about wind gusts coming from the slopes of Mill Mountain, but by 5:00 p.m. a tethered balloon at the fairground, 400 feet in the air, held perfectly still. Ely, eyeing the balloon from South Roanoke, got his chance and announced he would fly. Forty minutes later, Ely moved down the slope and gradually ascended in a northwesterly direction, crossed the Roanoke River west of the fairgrounds, and then turned and came over the grounds, descending safely in the center of the infield. “Thousands shrieked with delight

when the flying machine hove in sight and every movement was watched with intense interest,” reported the The Roanoke Times. The day Ely flew was “Old Soldiers Day” at the fair and Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate, had been admitted for free. One can only imagine their thoughts as the aged men watched a man take flight. Ely had flown a half mile and right into Roanoke history. Fair organizers hoped to have Ely return the following year but it was not to be. The young aviator died tragically on his twenty-fifth birthday in 1911 when his Curtiss aeroplane failed to pull out of a dive at an exhibition in

Macon, Georgia. Nelson Harris is a former mayor of Roanoke and an author of several books on our region’s history. He is currently working on a history of the Roanoke Valley in the 1940s.

N e i g h b o r h o o d N o s t a l g i a

Ely geared up for take off aboard his Curtiss aeroplane in 1910. Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center

Eugene Ely poses in front of a Curtiss aeroplane in 1911. The tubes crossing his chest are bicycle inner tubes used as life preservers. Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center

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