699:, a 24-year-old resident who became a prisoner awaiting trial for attempted armed robbery, exacerbated his criminal record when he brutally assaulted a deputy, fatally wounded a hospital security guard at Montgomery Regional Hospital, and murdered a Montgomery County sheriff's officer on the Huckleberry Trail by next morning. His subsequent escape and manhunt caused so much panic on Virginia Tech's campus during its first day of the fall semester that all classes were canceled and the campus was closed. Morva was brought into custody that afternoon.
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and it was a spectacle for the community. Three years later another mode of transportation, the train, entered
Blacksburg from Christiansburg using the Virginia Anthracite & Coal Railroad, which later became known as the "Huckleberry." Traffic in Blacksburg increased sufficiently enough that by
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was built on South Main and Eheart
Streets. That same year, all high schools in Montgomery County began operating on a twelve-grade basis which is still county policy to this day. Two years later, Blacksburg High School was relocated to a building on South Main Street which eventually became the
443:, Main Street was strung with ten street lights from Roanoke Street northward to the top of the hill, where it now intersects the Alumni Mall. By October the town's second stoplight was installed on Main Street at Roanoke Street and was synchronized with the original one at Main and College.
254:
was built, one that was not distinguishable from any other at the time. It went on to be the home of the future colonel of the 28th
Virginia Infantry Robert Preston and two Virginia governors. The cabin, now known as "Solitude," is the oldest building on the Virginia Tech campus.
369:
with a faculty of three members. Through the influence of presidential policies over the next century, the college grew and became known as
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, which shortly afterward became informally referred to as Virginia Tech.
293:
they built their first brick building at 117 South Main Street. Though still standing, this building has not been used as a church for many years. It was once South Main Café, but is currently Cabo Fish Taco. It is also the oldest building on Main Street. The
550:. The Blacksburg Branch of the Montgomery County Library was opened the same year. Ten years later, it was moved into the facility that used to house the Blacksburg Lumber Company on Draper Road. In
596:, Blacksburg's population more than tripled as Virginia Tech was annexed into the town and other land area was also brought in. The population grew from 9,000 people to 30,000 during this decade.
642:, Kipps Elementary School was opened. By this time, Blacksburg could boast five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school as part of the public education of its children.
730:, a 23-year-old South Korean english major at Virginia Tech, killed 32 people and wounded 25 others before committing suicide, making it the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
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when the last freight train arrived at the
Blacksburg depot. Within 24 hours, the depot was closed, the empty cars were picked up, and the tracks were immediately removed.
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New
Blacksburg High School on Patrick Henry Drive opens, Main Street facilities were converted to Blacksburg Middle School, University Mall shopping center opens (1974)
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and later became
Virginia Tech Airport. The community also got an extra mode of transportation as local buses began to make their rounds for the first time in
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was the year that marked the beginning of the end for the railroad that came to be known as the "Huckleberry." Passenger service came to an end on
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227:
After Black petitioned the state legislature to establish a town at the site, the official establishment and founding of
Blacksburg, Virginia was
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Blacksburg Branch of the
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library moves into facility that used to house Blacksburg Lumber Company on Draper Road (1980)
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Blacksburg High School moves to new South Main Street building, now site of
Blacksburg Middle School; Jack Goodwin, first chief of police (1954)
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when Officer Dave "Highpockets" Sumner became the first Blacksburg police officer. The first police car was purchased nine years later.
542:) facility in 1964 which is located south of Blacksburg. The Blacksburg Municipal Building on South Main Street was constructed in
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site of Blacksburg Middle School. The Margaret J. Beeks Elementary School and the Gilbert F. Linkous School were both completed in
159:
Blacksburg Branch of the Montgomery County Library opened, Terrace View apartments, first large student complex built (1970)
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555:
381:. The town bought its first fire truck 43 years later. The Blacksburg First Aid and Life Saving Crew was founded in
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There have been several deadlier shootings in U.S. history, but not by a single gunman, and not on a school campus.
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had built two cabins to worship in since the town's founding, they did not build a more permanent structure until
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190 years after its original construction, the newly renovated Smithfield Plantation house was re-opened in
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487:. Two years later, Blacksburg High School's current spot in town on Patrick Henry Drive was opened in
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One of the first educational establishments started in Blacksburg was the Blacksburg Female Academy in
392:, Blacksburg began to experience a techological boost. The first automobile came through the town in
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Virginia Tech's 125th Anniversary: Blacksburg Was Incorporated Year Before Virginia Tech Opened Doors
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and was 1,800 feet (548.64 meters) in length. The grass landing strip was given airport status in
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New River Valley Mall opened, Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center first ground-breaking (1988)
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After 24 years of abandonment and six years of planning and construction, the first phase of the
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Renovated Smithfield Plantation house opens, Corning Glass Works opens south of Blacksburg (1964)
581:, it took about nine years until the segment that ran alongside the town was opened in November
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Cho shot and wounded a further 17 people and caused injury to 6 others as they tried to flee.
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Blacksburg Municipal Building on South Main Street constructed, U. S. 460 bypass opens (1969)
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309:, Westview Cemetery was established from a few acres of land that were deeded to trustees.
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562:, the Blacksburg Community Center opened. It cost the town $ 1.2 million to build. By
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The first bank in Montgomery County, Blacksburg Savings Institution, was established in
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904:
A Special Place for 200 Years: Blacksburg's Mayors and the Evolution of Town Government
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Jack Goodwin was appointed the first chief of police by the Blacksburg Town Council in
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were the next Christian denomination to build a church within Blacksburg's limits. In
262:, the post office at Blacksburg, Montgomery County was established as "BLACKSBURGH" on
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679:, resulting in the creation of the first road connecting Blacksburg to Interstate 81.
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New Blacksburg branch library opens, first phase of the Huckleberry Trail opens (1996)
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One year later, the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College opened its doors on
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during the second half of the 20th century. Even though there had been a place for
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Blacksburg Savings Institution established (first bank in Montgomery County) (1849)
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was built. The University Mall shopping center opened that year as well. During
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on the thirty-eight and three-quarter acre tract that he laid out. The following
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436:. It was a precursor to the Lyric Theater which stands on College Avenue today.
59:
Preston and Olin Institute, Montgomery Messenger published its first issue (1869)
144:
Margaret J. Beeks Elementary School, Gilbert F. Linkous School completed (1963)
538:. An important opening that occurred was the Corning Glass Works (now called
228:
1016:
New River Valley Dining Guide - Blacksburg Restaurants in Blacksburg Virginia
401:
the town voted against allowing cows to continue to roam in town. The first
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Less than a year after that, the campus would once again witness chaos. On
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Unfortunately, Blacksburg's recent history has been marred by tragedy. On
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546:. Terrace View apartments, the first large student complex, was built in
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703:
628:
236:
187:
Blacksburg Community Center (built at cost of $ 1.2 million) opens (1981)
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Officer Dave "Highpockets" Sumner, first Blacksburg police officer (1937)
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Deadwood Days summer festival begins (later renamed Steppin' Out) (1976)
631:. This project quickly ushered the town into what is being called the
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or BEV, conceived as a computer networking project of Virginia Tech in
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after 20 years of issues with overcrowding in its previous location.
270:. The name was changed to the current spelling (without the "h") in
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Blacksburg High School built on South Main and Eheart Streets (1952)
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opened in 1996. The second phase of construction was completed in
890:
A Special Place for 200 Years: Business and Industry in Blacksburg
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as another addition to the growing amount of emergency services.
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Solitude built, oldest building on the Virginia Tech campus (1801)
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A Special Place for 200 Years: Blacksburg Social Life and Customs
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A Special Place for 200 Years: Blacksburg Educates Its Children
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Town has new charter, Montgomery Regional Hospital built (1971)
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Town incorporation, Thomas W. Jones becomes first mayor (1871)
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occurred. The horrible events of that day are known as the
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First Presbyterian church built (now South Main Cafe) (1847)
498:. Jan Olinger was made the first female police officer in
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Town installs lights on Main Street and street signs (1935)
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in 1869) was a Methodist-sponsored academy established in
258:
According to records of the Post Office Department of the
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First Montgomery County Interstate 81 stretch opens (1965)
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Economic Development History of Interstate 81 in Virginia
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comprising two separate attacks about two hours apart in
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Last run of the Huckleberry rail passenger service (1958)
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Blacksburg First Aid and Life Saving Crew founded (1951)
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The establishment of official law enforcement began in
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first landing strip (1929), given airport status (1931)
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Compulsory education and commercialization (1952-1992)
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A Special Place For 200 Years: Blacksburg Transported
585:. About half that amount of time passed before the
334:
The first newspaper published in Blacksburg was the
65:
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (1872)
483:and Harding Avenue Elementary School was built in
354:, the village that became known as Blacksburg was
205:Ground broken for experimental "Smart Road" (1997)
969:Blacksburg: A Brief Early History | Virginia Tech
316:. The Olin and Preston Institute (re-charted as
208:second phase of Huckleberry Trail complete (1998)
90:first theater (the original Lyric Theater)(1909)
566:, the New River Valley Mall was opened and the
417:. The town's first landing strip was built in
298:founded the third oldest church in the town in
645:A new Blacksburg branch library was opened in
243:. The town was named after him in his honor.
171:Jan Olinger, first woman police officer (1975)
627:as a way to link the town together using the
211:second phase of "Smart Road" completed (2002)
44:Blacksburg Female Academy incorporated (1840)
38:first permanent Methodist church built (1830)
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1091:"Fact File: Deadliest shootings in the U.S."
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573:After construction of Virginia's portion of
377:unit was organized within the university in
358:and Thomas W. Jones became the first mayor.
260:National Archives and Records Administration
153:Last Huckleberry freight train leaves (1966)
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84:first automobile seen in Blacksburg (1901)
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534:in the area began to increase in the mid-
409:and at the time was the only one between
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74:first fire-fighting unit organized (1899)
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568:Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center
190:Blacksburg Transit began running (1983)
165:Harding Avenue Elementary School (1972)
432:The town's first theater was built in
239:, he signed over the deed to the town
223:Blacksburg's establishment (1798-1870)
87:first train ran into Blacksburg (1904)
68:first Episcopalian church built (1879)
1005:Blacksburg Presbyterian: BPC History.
599:Replacing the old public bus system,
474:when the first official location for
199:Kipps Elementary School opens (1994)
41:land deeded for first cemetery (1832)
7:
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611:Into the Information Age (1993-2005)
338:. Its first issue was released in
458:Blacksburg experienced a boost of
111:First town buses begin runs (1947)
71:first Lutheran church built (1883)
24:
810:Blacksburg Bicentennial: Timeline
108:Town buys first police car (1946)
105:Town buys first fire truck (1942)
56:first Baptist church built (1852)
53:Olin and Preston Institute (1851)
944:Blacksburg Transit - BT History
615:Blacksburg is the site of the
1:
617:Blacksburg Electronic Village
217:Virginia Tech massacre (2007)
683:Recent tragedies (2006-2007)
556:Montgomery Regional Hospital
214:William Morva manhunt (2006)
93:first filling station (1919)
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1071:. Commonwealth of Virginia
318:Preston and Olin Institute
958:History of the Smart Road
512:. It would not be until
466:somewhere in town since
415:Bluefield, West Virginia
623:and officially born in
589:bypass opened in 1969.
724:Virginia Tech massacre
476:Blacksburg High School
980:Robert Preston papers
726:. The perpetrator,
716:Ambler Johnston Hall
540:Corning Incorporated
460:compulsory education
336:Montgomery Messenger
35:"BLACKSBURGH" (1827)
470:, it was not until
464:secondary education
601:Blacksburg Transit
654:Huckleberry Trail
603:began running in
532:commercialization
439:In the spring of
411:Roanoke, Virginia
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720:Norris Hall
1099:2007-04-28
1075:2007-08-31
734:References
673:Smart Road
279:Methodists
229:January 13
689:August 20
577:began in
363:October 2
179:1980-2007
116:1950-1979
79:1900-1949
27:1800-1899
991:Solitude
704:April 16
629:Internet
397:January
296:Baptists
241:trustees
237:August 4
592:In the
514:June 30
510:July 25
264:April 8
665:July 8
120:": -->
1094:MSNBC
1069:(pdf)
594:1970s
536:1960s
252:cabin
16:<
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367:1872
352:1871
340:1869
329:1849
322:1851
314:1840
307:1832
300:1852
291:1848
283:1830
272:1893
268:1827
248:1801
233:1798
122:edit
663:On
638:In
350:In
324:.
305:In
246:In
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