A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 4 – 7/15/2021 (Continued)
Leaving Burlington, NC I headed north on US-87 toward Roanoke, VA. On the way I crossed the border and stopped in Ridgeway, VA long enough to take a photo of the famous Martinsville Speedway. Built in 1947, this ½ -mile oval track is home to the NASCAR Cup Series races and is referred to as “The Paper Clip” by many drivers. I’ve watched a lot of NASCAR races that have taken place at that track, over the years, and wanted to at least be able to say I saw the track.
Another 10 miles north on US-220 I visited the Rucker’s Antique Emporium located in Martinsville, VA. I wanted to check-out the Telephone & Telecommunications Museum which I was told was on the 2nd floor of the Emporium. This museum uses antique artifacts displayed to allows visitors to walk thru the history of the telephone and other telecommunication devices dating from the early 1800s to the present.
Photo Credit: https://didyouknowscience.com/top-technology-breakhroughs-in-the-1800s/
Now it was another 50 miles north on US-220 to visit the Virginia Museum of Transportation located in Roanoke, VA. This large museum is housed in the old 1918 Norfolk & Western Railway freight depot and displays many 1940s era steam locomotives and other rolling stock. The museum also has on display several restored 1800s antique cars, in addition to the Big Lick; a 1940s era passenger station replica and much more.
Just a few blocks away I visited the O. Winston Link Museum, there in Roanoke. This small museum is located in the restored 1852 Norfolk & Western Railway passenger station and displays the photographic works of Winston Link, who is said to be considered the 20th century master railroad photographer. His railroad themed photographs are nationally known and have appeared in many books and magazines over the years.
In another few blocks, there in downtown Roanoke, I visited the Virginian Station which is the old 1909 Roanoke Passenger Station. Renovated after a fire in 2001, the station now displays historical exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia as they relate to the influence
of the Virginian Railway Line on the early city of Roanoke and the surrounding Roanoke Valley area. Passenger service from this station was terminated in 1956.
Before leaving downtown Roanoke I stopped to check-out the Roanoke Pinball Museum located at #1 Market Street, in the Market Center, on the 2nd floor of the Center in the Square building. This museum has 60 fully playable pinball machines and other interactive displays dating from the 1930s to the present. And yes, I remember spending a lot of time playing pinball machines as a teenager. But Snooker was really my game of choice.
I was running out of daylight, and by now it was time to locate my motel, there in Roanoke, and get checked. Once I got everything in my motel room, I ask the motel clerk for restaurant recommendations close by and he said he liked the El Cazador Mexican Restaurant down the street. I had their Chili Verde plate with Spanish rice and refried beans. It was wonderful, and I had enough left over for tomorrow night.
Photo Credit: http://elcazadortaqueria.com/menu.php?cat=19&item=46&loc=5
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 