Try to identify a different piece of Lynchburg-area history every week. If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@LynchburgHistory.com or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Mystery Picture of the Week Archives:Â 2018Â |Â 2017Â |Â 2016Â |Â 2015
Dec. 28, 2015 - Some Things Don't Change
Hint:Â Even fifty-five years later we still have the same problems with snow. Do you recognize the location?
Photo from the archives of The News
This block is remarkably unchanged from this 1960 view. It is the 1200 block of Main Street. The main difference is that the Community Market on the right no longer has the brick walls around it, and buildings out of view on the right have been demolished.
Dec. 21, 2015 - Digging on the Farm
Hint:Â Here's a happy group with a shovel, but they don't exactly look like farmers. Do you know what is happening here, 43 years ago?Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Dec. 21, 2015 -Â Digging on the Farm
Answer: This was the groundbreaking at Montview Farm of the new Lynchburg Baptist College — what has since become Liberty University. Pictured on that day, December 20, 1972, are, from left, Forest Bailey, Percy Hall, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Elmer Townes, and Sam Pate.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Dec. 14, 2015 - The Store for Thrifty ShoppersÂ
Hint:Â Kulman's certainly had the goods back in the day. At the time of this photo the area was getting a little run down.Â
Photo by George Snead courtesy of the Jones Memorial Library
Dec. 14, 2015 -Â The Store for Thrifty ShoppersÂ
Answer:Â This 1963 photo shows a couple of buildings that, prior to 1851, had been a hotel and a tavern called Cross Keys Tavern. The buildings still stand at the northeast corner of Main and Twelfth Streets, across from the Community Market.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo by George Snead courtesy of the Jones Memorial LibraryÂ
Dec. 7, 2015 - Shades of Fantasia
Hint:Â This shovel is tearing up the ground all by itself. Where were the wizards? Do you remember this event?
Photo from the archives of The News
Dec. 7, 2015 - Shades of Fantasia
Answer:Â This shovel was controlled by a radio signal from a tiny "electric wand" at the groundbreaking for an addition to GE's Mountain View Road plant in 1959. The site is now part of Thomas Road Baptist Church.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Nov. 30, 2015 - School Days, School Days
Hint:Â Clearly this picture is of another age. Can you recognize this one? The initials over the porch are a clue.
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Odel Shelton
Nov. 30, 2015 - School Days, School Days
Answer:Â This photo from 1930 shows the old Madison Heights School that stood in Old Town Madison Heights. It burned around 1934, shortly after construction had started for its replacement on Phelps Road.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Odel Shelton
Nov. 23, 2015 - Building AgainÂ
Hint:Â Demolition was finished and the site was being prepped for something new. Know what it was?
Photo from the archives of The News
Nov. 23, 2015 - Building AgainÂ
Answer:Â A parking lot was the best use for this property in 1959. The old Harris Woodson Candy Company buildings had been demolished at the corner of 7th and Commerce Streets. Demolition was continuing on the old Carroll Hotel on the corner of 8th and Main to allow a new structure which was to have a restaurant and offices.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Nov. 16 2015 - Bygone Elegance
Hint: The marble pillars and fixtures of this building had been imported from Italy. Do you recognize this?
Photo from the archives of The News
Nov. 16, 2015 - Bygone Elegance
Answer:Â The Carroll Hotel lobby was once one of the city's most popular rendevous spots in an era when the hotel catered to celebrated guests. By the end of the 1950s the hotel was in decline. It was demolished in 1959.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Nov. 9, 2015 - A Pool? A Fortress?
Hint:Â What is unique about this swimming pool? The hill beside it is a clue.
Photo courtesy of Joy Graybill
Nov. 9, 2015 - A Pool? A Fortress?
Answer:Â This swimming pool, part of the Old Fort Cottage Hotel adjoining the Merry Garden Dine and Dance Hall at the intersection of Routes 501 and 460, was carefully built onto the outside wall of a local Civil War fort when Carey Falwell built the cottages in 1931. The fort was destroyed in the early 1970s when a new grade-separated interchange was built and completely changed the landscape.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo courtesy of Joy Graybill
Nov. 2, 2015 - Biting the DustÂ
Hint:Â The buildings in this block were about to be demolished. Do you recognize this?Â
Photo from the archives of The NewsÂ
Nov. 2, 2015 - Biting the DustÂ
Answer:Â The Harris-Woodson Candy Company buildings (in the foreground) were on the corner of 7th and Commerce Streets. The buildings in this block facing commerce were all demolished shortly after this photo was taken in 1959.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.Â
Photo from the archives of The NewsÂ
Oct. 26, 2015 - Stay a WhileÂ
Hint:Â This once-popular gathering place has been drastically changed. You will be hard pressed to recognize it today.
Photo courtesy of Joy Graybill
Oct. 26, 2015 - Stay a WhileÂ
Answer:Â This postcard is titled "While away Inn, The RMWC Club House." In the early years of Randolph Macon Woman's College, students gathered there for snacks and relaxation. The building still stands on the corner of Not to way Street and North Princeton Circle, across from the college, but its porches have been filled in, the roofline altered, and it is almost unrecognizable.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo courtesy of Joy Graybill
Oct. 19, 2015 - In Name Only
Hint: These fine buildings are long gone, with only their name left to identify the place. Do you know where this is?
Photo from the archives of VDOT
Oct. 19, 2015 - In Name Only
Answer:Â The Odd Fellows Orphanage was chartered in 1903 on what was then called Liggates Road. This photo was taken in 1958 when the Lynchburg Expressway was being built nearby. This view looks down Liggates Road from about the location of the Expressway. The new Odd Fellows Home was built on Boston Avenue sometime after 1963 and the orphanage was demolished. The property was bounded on the north by what is now Odd Fellows Road and on the east by the Southern Railway.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of VDOT
Oct. 12, 2015 - Service with a SmileÂ
Hint:Â This hardware store was at your service. Do you recognize the building?
Photo courtesy of Peggy Martin Hobbs
Oct. 12, 2015 - Service with a SmileÂ
Answer:Â Perrow-Evans Hardware was at 1218 Main Street, where Bailey-Spencer Hardware is today.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo courtesy of Peggy Martin Hobbs
Oct. 5, 2015 - Road Widening StartsÂ
Hint: This road was getting busier with recent new construction nearby. Do you know where it is?
Photo from the archives of The News
Oct. 5, 2015 - Road Widening StartsÂ
Answer:Â This 1961 photo shows road widening beginning on Langhorne Road near the entrance to Tate Springs Road (at right in background). As you can see, at that time there were no buildings at all along that stretch, though Holy Cross School had been built in 1958 to the left.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of The News
Sept. 28, 2015 - Dancing Fools
Hint:Â Can you imagine dancing or walking for 912 hours? That's what this couple did to win the prize. Know where this was?
Photo courtesy of Edna (Pee Wee) Falwell Twiddy
Sept. 28, 2015 - Dancing Fools
Answer:Â This photo from 1935 shows the winners of a Walkathon held at the Merry Garden dinner and dance club. A local participant won a 1932 Ford car. One of the judges for the contest was Red Skelton (before he became famous). The Merry Garden used to stand at the intersection of routes 501 and 460 at the end of Campbell Avenue.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo courtesy of Edna (Pee Wee) Falwell Twiddy
Sept. 21, 2015 - A Thriving CenterÂ
Hint:Â Back in the '70s we had plenty of good options for shopping. Do you remember this one?Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Sept. 21, 2015 - A Thriving CenterÂ
Answer:Â The Fort Hill Village shopping center had quite a variety of enterprises: hardware, gun, pharmacy, paint, gems, antiques, insurance, barber, hairstylist, billiards, two groceries, ice cream, bakery, fabric, ABC, shoes, restaurant, imports, gifts, gym, laundry, photo studio, department store, bank, and even a Jesus Shop.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of The NewsÂ
Sept. 14, 2015 - Splitting a Neighborhood Â
Hint:Â This road plows right through several neighborhoods. You probably drive through here frequently. Recognize it?
Photo from the archives of VDOT
Sept. 14, 2015 - Splitting a Neighborhood Â
Answer: VDOT was building the Lynchburg Expressway through this neighborhood in 1958. The bridge crosses Garfield Avenue. The houses are on Aragon Street and Cliff Street, which was split in two by the new road. This view, looking southwest from a point just south of the Kemper Street exit, would still be visible today, except that trees and fences obscure most of the houses.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of VDOT
Sept. 7, 2015 - We're Gonna Rock!Â
Hint:Â Clear the desks! Here we go! Does anyone recognize this photo?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Sept. 7, 2015 - We're Gonna Rock!Â
Answer:Â This photo from the archives of the News & Advance shows children dancing at a school in the late 50s or early 60s. Can you identify the place and children?
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 31, 2015 - First of its Kind.Â
Hint: Attracting a major chain hotel must have been a big deal for this community. Do you recognize this one?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 31, 2015 - First of its Kind.Â
Answer:Â This Holiday Inn was built about 1958 in Madison Heights. On the far left is a Texaco station also under construction.
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 24, 2015 - One Man in a Tub.Â
Hint:Â What is this man doing in a tub? Can you tell where he is?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo courtesy of Blackwell Press
Aug. 24, 2015 - One Man in a Tub.Â
Answer:Â This A.P. wire photo describes this as a pre-fab sentry house constructed from a tobacco hogshead with a removable transparent dome. In 1943 the Travelodge Corporation of Lynchburg offered them for sale for about $25. The Travelodge Corp. was owned by Alsen D. Thomas and was located at 1120 Madison Street, from where this view looks toward First Baptist Church in the background.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo courtesy of Blackwell Press
Aug. 17, 2015 - Changes in Store.
Hint: A long-standing club house was demolished to make this hole in the ground. Do you know what was being built?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 17, 2015 - Changes in Store.
Answer: In 1957 Co-operative Building and Loan was constructing their five-story office at the corner of Tenth and Church Streets. The old Piedmont Club had stood on the same lot for many decades.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 10, 2015 - Grand Opening.
Hint:Â Crowds gathered for this grocery store opening. Do you recognize it?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 10, 2015 - Grand Opening.
Answer: On December 13, 1961, the new Anderson’s Piggly Wiggly Super Market opened at 5061 Fort Avenue.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Photo from the archives of The News
Aug. 3, 2015 - Drilling for Oil?
Hint: No, they weren’t drilling for oil, though they would have been about as successful at finding any of these buildings still standing in Lynchburg today. Even the one about to be built in 1885 was demolished by 1909.
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Image courtesy of the Jones Memorial Library, research courtesy of S. Allen Chambers Jr.
Aug. 3, 2015 - Drilling for Oil?
Answer: Photos of the construction of the U.S. Court House and Post Office at Ninth and Church Streets reveal much about the surrounding buildings. From the left: the building with the steeple was the Methodist Protestant Church (later First Methodist), First Baptist Church (later remodeled into the YMCA), and the Mason's Hall. On the east corner of Ninth Street was Second Presbyterian Church.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
Image courtesy of the Jones Memorial Library, research courtesy of S. Allen Chambers Jr.
July 27, 2015 - Changing Use for the Times.
Hint:Â These houses stood just to the right of last week's Mystery Picture. And like that one, they were built as residences.
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
July 27, 2015 - Changing Use for the Times.
Answer: By the 1950s when this photo was taken, these buildings at 610–616 Church Street had transitioned from residential to commercial use. Dr. John Devine had his office in the building on the left; Lynchburg Federal Savings occupied the next building, formerly the home of Jehu Williams and Henry Schoolfield. The YWCA is on the right.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
July 20, 2015 - From House to Hotel.
Hint:Â This house used to occupy a space where a lot more people sleep these days. Can you guess where it was?
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
Photo courtesy of Jones Memorial Library
July 20, 2015 - From House to Hotel.
Answer:Â In 1875 Philip Asa Krise built this house on the east corner of Church and Sixth Streets, now the back of the Holiday Inn Select. In 1905 he built the Krise building on the west corner of Ninth and Main Streets. By 1911 he was ready to move to the suburbs, and built Krislea (also known as Villa Maria) on Rivermont Avenue.
Photo courtesy of Jones Memorial Library.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
July 13, 2015 - Rest for the Weary.Â
Hint:Â There's a major intersection at this location now, so all of this is gone. Remember it?Â
Click to the next slide for the answer.Â
July 13, 2015 - Rest for the Weary.Â
Answer: The Old Fort Cottages and Restaurant were built by the savvy businessman Warren Falwell at the intersection of state routes 501 and 460 at the end of Campbell Avenue. It was a wise move at a time when automobile travel was just taking off and travelers needed accommodations.
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
July 6, 2015 - Grander but smaller.Â
Hint:Â Bigger isn't always better. This building underwent a major change that didn't really enhance the exterior.Â
Click to the next slide for the answer.
July 6, 2015 - Grander but smaller.Â
Answer:Â Built in 1941 for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, this building at the corner of Seventh and Church Streets had some style. At some point, perhaps in the 1960s, they added a six-story wing on the right where the small building stood and increased the height of hte original building by about two stories. The narrow balconies were removed and the shrub area is now concrete.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
June 29, 2015 - Sweeping the Street.Â
Hint:Â Not many of these buildings are still standing. Do you recognize any of them?Â
Click to the next slide for the answer.
June 29, 2015 - Sweeping the Street.Â
Answer:Â The buildings on the far right still stand on Fifth Street just above Church Street. The houses on the left and all of the buildings below Church Street, including First Christian Church, have been torn down.Â
If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lynchburg and the surrounding area) please contact Nancy Marion at Nancy@BlackwellPress.net or at 847-0939. For more old photos visit www.LynchburgHistory.com.
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