Town of the Week, October 24, 1998

Take a visit to Salem, Virginia; just listen in.

Salem, Virginia

This town is pretty as a postcard, and preserved like Mama's pecan pie. Imagine a charming southern-mountain city of 25,000, nestled up against the Blue Ridge like a tick on a hound. As a city, Salem, Virginia is relatively young, but its history stretches back to well beyond the Civil War.

Roanoke College was located here in 1847, and led the growth of the town. Both students and teachers have enjoyed Salem's farmer's market, a colorful bazaar 6 days a week from spring til December. A walking tour downtown shows storefronts still have their original tinwork. A good place to start a search of Salem is in the Williams-Brown house-store on East Main, next to Longwood Park. Built in 1852, the building was also a fraternity house before being turned into the Salem Museum. The town practially abounds with antique stores and shops, with a dozen downtown.

Salem is also the heart of Roanoke Valley sports. It hosts the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, which determines the Division Three National College Football Championship; hosts the Division Three Basketball, Women's Softball, and Men's Baseball National Championships; and also hosts the chance Crawford slowpitch softball tournament, the largest benefit tournament in America. Another big draw is the Colorado Rockies farm team, the Salem Avalanche. Next month brings the stacked market-holiday bazaar; June means the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, and in July, the Salem Fair. Home of the High School Spartans, our Town of the Week is Salem, Virginia.