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.

That 70's Look

Tech students living off campus in 1975

The 70's had a look of it's own in terms of fashion and grooming.  It was much less flamboyant than the hippie scene, not quite farmer or trucker, with somewhat of a "livin' off the land" or "don't need no fancy threads" attitude.

The bar scene inside Mr. Fooz  -  demin, flannel, and  hair

Shopping was pretty easy since the wardrobes seem to consist of various ages and colors of jeans.  Completing the ensemble meant flannel or cotton shirts, and either sneakers or boots.  That was about it.  I think everyone owned a jeans jacket too, probably a Levis or Wrangler.

The guys still mostly sported long hair and if you were walking behind a group of young folks you might be hard pressed to tell male from female from the rear.   Even though when you think of the term "grunge" you immediately think of the 1980's and punk bands, etc, but the 1970's had a grunge of it's own.

A warm house and a couple of extra refrigerators

Living conditions weren't all that different from the style of dress.  No offense to the younger generation of today but it seemed like our standards were a hell of a lot lower back then, and we didn't even care.  In fact I liked my crappy basement apartment on Roanoke Street.  It was so dark down there we even hung a sign outside our door that read "The Edge of Night".

Some of our friends lived at Terrace View one year and it seemed like pretty fancy living to me.  They had green shag carpet and kitchen appliances to match.  Yee-ha.

Gettin' Outta Town

A solitary students awaits the Trailways bus to head home

Transportation needs were a lot different in the 1970's.  Today it seems like everyone over 16 must have their own car (although I hope that's an exaggeration).  So, your choices were to take your clunker home for the holidays OR catch a ride with a friend OR take your chances with your feet and thumb out on the highway OR possibly take the bus.

You know, this made me think .... it really is rare to see hitchhikers anymore.  I can't tell you how many times I hitched rides (either alone or with a buddy) to the DC area, and once to southern Florida.

Anyway, at least a long time ago you could go up to the Continental Trailways Bus Terminal located at 400 North Main, opposite the Hokie House at the top of the hill.  Now you have to go to Christiansburg to catch a bus.

The Roads To Blacksburg

An early shot of the Tech bookstore that shows College Avenue (left in photo) still connecting to the drillfield

If you were here in 1970 you might remember, at some point in that decade, that :

*  Prices Fork Road was just a simple two lane country road, and heading east (toward town) it didn't even connect to Main Street.  You had to angle up Turner Street past the Tech electric plant to hit North Main.  Likewise, going west, there was a single street light at the top of the hill just before the Marriott and when you got to the 460 Bypass it was level with that road and only had a stop sign (the same with Toms Creek Road and 460 intersection).

*  When leaving town via South Main you'd pass Hokie Honda then curve down a hill toward Merrimac, then find the ramp to the right which brought you up onto 460.

*  Patrick Henry Drive which connects North Main Street to Toms Creek Road didn't exist.

*  College Avenue passed in front of Squires Student Center and hooked up with the drillfield (see photo above).

*  In 1970 if you were heading to Blacksburg using Interstate 81 you had to get off at the Dixie Caverns exit. The interstate highway wasn't finished then .... you had no choice!  I believe it was completed sometime in late 1971.

Lots of other minor subdivision type roads weren't in place then either, naturally.  But if you think of any other "major" differences, please chime in.

Books Strings and Things

Customers browse the record bin at Books Strings & Things, 214 Draper Road

[ I know I did a previous posting on this but it felt like I really didn't do it justice, plus now I have some more photos to share ]

This was not only one of my personal favorite places in town, but one of the most classic businesses ever to grace Blacksburg.  When I ask people around my age what they miss about the Blacksburg of old, Books Strings & Things is almost always at the top of the list.

The unabridged dictionary

Part book store, part record store, part reading room, part social gathering place ..... and an eclectic decor of natural woods and little nooks that made it almost cozy and homey.

It started out a little smaller at first, and in 1974 and 75 they expanded into the empty space adjacent to the original store thanks to the help of local artist and craftsman Peter Montgomery.  The owner, Richard Walters, started the establishment just around the corner in the alley in the latter part of the 1960's but it's "hayday" was in the 1970's for sure (or so it seemed).

There was something very inviting about the place.  It even felt friendly the moment you walked in, and you wanted to stay there for hours.  Old buildings with exposed bricks and lots of wood have a way of feeling comfortable.

Dick Walters at the antique register

No one seemed to mind if you got lost in one of the book nooks and just sat there reading.  After all, there were chairs awaiting your tush if you were so inclined. 


I think I bought most of my vinyl records there.  The music of that era was so great, so exciting, people were constantly clamoring to see what new albums were available from their favorite musicians.  Another cool thing about LPs was the artwork.

I remember at times Dick Walters would put out a large quantity of paperback books in a trash bin, as if throwing them away (the covers were torn off), and left it out on the sidewalk for anyone to grab .... a great way to get a freebie.