Stompin' 76

Although this summertime festival didn't actually happen in Blacksburg, I know a that a heck of a lot of us where there!

Stompin' 76 happened 7 years after that little music gathering they had up in New York, and in a lot of ways it looked the same.  Skinny long-haired youth swarmed Lawson's farm in Carroll County, just north of Galax, for 3 days of music, fun, and freedom.  Some folks parked as much as 11 miles away and walked to the site.

One of my personal memories of being there was watching a blitzed hippie fall into a roaring campfire and rolled on out of it seemingly unscathed.   There was so much music that I doubt all of us got to see all the acts that showed up.  Those that did show up were:

 Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Vassar Clements, Ry Cooder, John Hartford, Osborne Brothers, The Rowans, John Prine, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Doc & Merle Watson, The Dillards, Hickory Wind, New Grass Revival, David Bromberg, Red, White and Bluegrass, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Papa John Creach, Eric Weisberg and Deliverance, Star Spangled Washboard Band, Grass On The Rocks, Good Ol' Boys and Joe and Bing. 


3 Days of Fun and Music, all 23 bands for only $12.00! 

Welcome Home

If you were heading west toward town, and passed the hospital and Scotty's, you could continue on the bypass or veer to the right to go downtown ..... in which case this simple wooden sign was there to greet you.

I really miss seeing this sign.  It always made me feel like I was coming home.

Middle Earth

Middle Earth was certainly a unique little eatery, located in the lower level at 106 Jackson Street (the road between the Post Office and bank).  As the name suggests, you were visiting J.R.R. Tolkien's world when you entered and saw the white foam walls and meandered through the underground lair to your seat.

Their ads promoted a "relaxing businessman's lunch" and also "savory Chinese dinners.  All I vaguely remember is that it was a cool venue that would probably (today) give the town code officials heart attacks.

Sorry I don't have a photo of the inside, but if I ever find one I'll add it here.

Mr. Fooz

Nothing new to say except a nice guy just wrote to me today to say how much he loved the sub sandwiches at Mr. Fooz.   It's amazing how many times I've heard people say over the years that the Fooz subs were the best they ever had.  Little did they know that wasn't actually oregano we used to sprinkle on top  :)

Blouses and Beer

215 North Main proved to be a busy location as businesses came and went, both upstairs and down.  Before there was Flipper McCoy there was a women's clothing boutique named Joli's which later became Jamie's ..... both run by Jim (aka "Jimbo") and Ann Cannon.

The upstairs of the same building eventually became yet another drinking establishment (there's never enough of them in a college town, huh?) starting with the Campus Club.  It was a good thing not to be drunk before climbing the metal stairs at the back of the building.  I don't remember how long Campus Club lasted but most of you old timers know it later became the Ton 80 club, best known for it's dart boards and the (then) largest selection of beers anywhere in town.

Ironman's

Here's another place that was a staple in the 70's, but once again I need help from the readers out there.  For some reason this was not a place I frequented much.  In fact I may have been in Ironman's maybe once or twice that I can recall.

I seem to remember they had live music occasionally, in the evenings.  In terms of location I thought it was to the left of Cook's Clean Center, in the space now occupied by Mike's Grill.  However, the ad above gives the address as 409 Main and the current address of Mike's is 418 North Main ..... but it could be just some kind of renumbering that occurred some time ago.

I still get a kick out of these old newspaper ads though.  PBR and Schlitz were big sellers back then .... and if I'm reading this one right a whole six-pack was only 99 cents!

Ok, so please fill up the Comments on this one with personal memories.  Oh by the way, this ad came out in 1971 and it appears that Ironman's had just gotten new managers.

Upscale Dining

If you're familiar with the address on this ad you might recognize that it's in the same building that became a very popular restaurant called Bogens.  Bogens has since vacated the premises and the new joint is just called 622 North Main, I believe.

The Possibility was a pretty posh place serving French cuisine at upscale prices too.  This is where I had my first taste (and last) of snails.