Features of my hometown

So many times we want to get away somewhere away from all things familiar but we need to appreciate what we have in our own backyard. I’ve lived in Roanoke, Va. since 1979. The Roanoke Valley also consists of the towns of Salem and Vinton. I’m sharing a few things about this area that make it special for me and my family. The cover photo is of the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround the area where I live from any local. They are always breathtaking and a highlight of surrounding neighborhoods. The cover photo is a view from just outside of Salem and the image below is near Vinton. I believe this showcases the majesty of the Roanoke Valley.

The Blue Ridge Mountains cradle this part of the area and make us feel safe and secure.

Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church

Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church was established in 1884 and the congregants have endured much. The church was originally located in the black neighborhood of the city that the whites referred to as the “ape yard” because it was an all African American location. Black people called it “tank town” because of nearby oil tanks. The first church building of GMZ was burned down by the KKK after a lynch mob falsely accused a black man of raping a white woman. The congregants worked hard to save money and eventually built a new facility less than half a mile away.

The new church relocated to nearby Williamson Rd. but not long after the City of Roanoke had the building torn down to build a Civic Center. The members were forced to pick up and start over yet again. The edifice in the photos is where the 136-year-old church resides today. Five generations of my husband's family attended this church and it represents the strength and resilience of it's members. a number of the congregants are aged 95-100 and several who recently passed were also in that age range. This long life says something about the strength of the people in spite of all they endured. This church is where my husband was baptized as a child and our oldest son is now currently the associate pastor for youth there.

Henry Street

Henry Street, located near Downtown Roanoke was the center of the black community for decades. This location was nicknamed “ The Yard”. There were restaurants, movie theaters, hotels and nightclubs along the 2 block strip. Cab Calloway and James Brown along with other famous people back in the day gave performances at venues in the area. When black people began moving away the neighborhood deteriorated. Today it’s a historic district with only a few businesses. Most all of the older buildings have been razed. The following photo is of my husband and son in front of a Martin Luther King statue that has been erected. About a block behind them on the left used to be The Bright Light Barber Shop that was owned by my paternal grandfather William Jones Sr.

Countryside Park

This park was only built about 6 or 7 years ago but the land it is on used to be called Huff Farms. This was a large plantation in the valley but was later part of it t was turned into the Countryside golf course. The park has a beautiful walking trail with gym equipment at strategic locations. You will notice that the mountains are in full view. There are picnic tables and grills and many activities for the children at Countryside. The trail in the above image is just behind the park and not connected to it. This leads to the Roanoke Regional Airport. My grandchildren and I loved walking in this area because it has a feeling of decades gone by. When we saw a No trespassing sign we stopped walking in this area.

A local church hosted a petting zoo one Saturday afternoon with lots of animals. This was thrilling for city children.

My grandchildren enjoy this park and I can take my daily walk while still keeping an eye on them, it’s hard to believe there were once plantations and slave quarters in the area.

Countryside Park is one of the most diverse in the city as you will see black, white, Ethiopian, Asian, Hispanic, and children of combined racial heritages playing together. People drive from miles around to enjoy this unique facility. There are other parks where you basically see the race of those who live in the neighborhood but at Countryside everyone comes together. The park benches and play area are in the back and I love all those trees and the oxygen they give.

Cascades Falls

The Cascades is a hiking trail and waterfalls just outside of Salem which is in the Roanoke Valley. There are 2 trails up the 2-mile walk to the waterfall. One trail is simply walking a path up the mountain and the other is a bit dangerous. There are ledges, and spots where you literally climb over rocks, look down for 20 feet, and could lose your footing. The air is clean and fresh and I lost my appetite in the beautiful and healthy atmosphere. It’s no Niagara but it’s amazing to know this miracle of nature is in my backyard.

The following image is a still shot of a video where the water comes tumbling over a rock about a half-mile below the falls. It's very serene in this area and I love it. The next photo is the water a little further down flowing through smaller rocks and broken tree branches.

I hope have enjoyed a few of the things that make life fun in my neck of the woods. I think it is very important to appreciate the beauty of where you live because it is true that there is no place like home.