The Gas Crisis

 In 1974 the lines at the gas pumps just kept getting longer and longer thanks to good old OPEC.  Gasoline was rationed and service stations often ran out entirely.  In many cases you couldn't buy gasoline if your gas gauge read more than half full.

Eventually Virginia adopted an odd-even system based on the day of the week and your license plate number.  People whose last plate number was even could buy gas on even numbered days.  I'd almost welcome that back if the prices could be the same today ..... under a dollar per gallon.

This newspaper ad (above) appear in the Blacksburg Sun around that same time period, sponsored by Appalachian Power and espousing the use of coal as "the answer" to foreign oil dependency.  Imagine that.