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Radford Then & Now - 2008 Historic Radford Calendar
Nothing ever stays the same, but some things come close. On its twelve pages, the 2007 Historic Radford Calendar – published by the Radford Heritage Foundation – chronicles some of the significant changes in Radford while showing those that remain almost unchanged today. The Radford Then & Now approach assembles both historic and current photographs for comparison.
Radford Then & Now, the Radford Historic Calendar 2008
“We had two goals with this calendar,” said Hanns-Peter Nagel, director of the Radford Heritage Foundation and supervisor of the project. “First, we wanted to show how the sites developed over time. But we also wanted to encourage people to go to these sites and take a look for themselves.” In fact, all points of interest depicted in the calendar can still be seen around town. Directly behind Glencoe Museum is the New River Railroad Bridge with the piers of its “uniquely curved” part still visible from Bissett Park. The indelible imprint of the railroad on the town is revisited in a look at the old railroad station and the busy train yard in the 1900s. The Dreamland Theater in the East End business district – once the place to see silent movies – has disappeared, but a few hidden signs remain (the calendar will tell you where to look).
Every photo in the calendar is accompanied by a caption, explaining the story behind it. “It took a dedicated effort by many volunteers and students to put this together,” Hanns-Peter Nagel described the production process of the calendar. Drawing on the photo collection of Radford Heritage Foundation (RHF) Board member John Barksdale, RU student Vickie Epstein and Thomas Wilson, another RHF Board member, sought out historic places all over town, compared photographs, and even researched deeds. Interesting details emerged over the course of their work. For example, the area around Second and Bolling Streets used to be a small commercial district, with two stores operating in the early 1900s. The building of the J. S. Lawson store remains there today almost unaltered (check it out!), whereas Rupe’s Racket Store – just across the street – has been significantly remodeled into an apartment complex. .
Just in the time for Christmas, the new calendar is available today. All proceeds will benefit the Radford Heritage Foundation’s efforts to keep our city’s heritage alive. At $10 each, the calendar provides new perspectives on Radford’s history for less than $1 a month. It is now available at Glencoe Museum and other businesses around town.
For companies, clubs and organizations (or individuals!) interested in bulk purchases, special deals are available (10-19 calendars for $9 a piece, 20-49 calendars for $7.50 a piece, 50-99 calendars for $6 a piece).
