B-burg History
@jbeed-burg.bsky.social
Gathering Blacksburg VA Public History
At Historic Smithfield’s spring, it’s hard not to think of the enslaved people once forced to carry water up to the Preston home. The old sycamore still stands witness. This quiet place holds a hard history, and we honor the resilience of those who shaped this land.
November 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
At Historic Smithfield’s spring, it’s hard not to think of the enslaved people once forced to carry water up to the Preston home. The old sycamore still stands witness. This quiet place holds a hard history, and we honor the resilience of those who shaped this land.
Virginia Tech Campus Plan Rendering shown in the 1926-27 General Report. Can you spot what was built?
November 19, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Virginia Tech Campus Plan Rendering shown in the 1926-27 General Report. Can you spot what was built?
1958 Aerial of Blacksburg, north east view of the VPI campus
November 19, 2025 at 3:04 AM
1958 Aerial of Blacksburg, north east view of the VPI campus
This has to be a witness sycamore, standing guard over the spring that provided water for those who lived at Historic Smithfield.
November 17, 2025 at 4:32 AM
This has to be a witness sycamore, standing guard over the spring that provided water for those who lived at Historic Smithfield.
Stumbled upon a huge, time-worn osage orange tree on the Historic Smithfield grounds today with artifacts at its base.
November 17, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Stumbled upon a huge, time-worn osage orange tree on the Historic Smithfield grounds today with artifacts at its base.
The former VPI (Virginia Tech) Chapel—at one time repurposed as the campus library—burned in the mid-1950s. It stood on the site where the current library is located. Fortunately, all of the books had already been moved to another building.
November 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The former VPI (Virginia Tech) Chapel—at one time repurposed as the campus library—burned in the mid-1950s. It stood on the site where the current library is located. Fortunately, all of the books had already been moved to another building.
1930 aerial view of the VPI campus, looking northwest. Burruss Hall is not yet constructed, and the original McBryde Hall occupies the site of the modern building. Prices Fork Road can be seen along the top.
November 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
1930 aerial view of the VPI campus, looking northwest. Burruss Hall is not yet constructed, and the original McBryde Hall occupies the site of the modern building. Prices Fork Road can be seen along the top.
Aerial view of Blacksburg taken between 1935 and 1937, with the town in the foreground and a northwest-facing perspective. War Memorial Gym is visible on the left and Burruss Hall on the right.
November 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Aerial view of Blacksburg taken between 1935 and 1937, with the town in the foreground and a northwest-facing perspective. War Memorial Gym is visible on the left and Burruss Hall on the right.
Fun day at Historic Smithfield at the Thanksgiving celebration. Over 400 people visited over two days. www.historicsmithfield.org/events/thank...
November 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Fun day at Historic Smithfield at the Thanksgiving celebration. Over 400 people visited over two days. www.historicsmithfield.org/events/thank...
Fabulous Virginia 250 traveling exhibit at Historic Smithfield today (Nov. 15, 2025). If you get the chance, make sure to spend at least an hour exploring it — absolutely worth the time.
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Fabulous Virginia 250 traveling exhibit at Historic Smithfield today (Nov. 15, 2025). If you get the chance, make sure to spend at least an hour exploring it — absolutely worth the time.
Blacksburg 1931/32 USGS Map found in the Montgomery Museum of Art & History Museum, Christiansburg, VA
November 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Blacksburg 1931/32 USGS Map found in the Montgomery Museum of Art & History Museum, Christiansburg, VA
PolyScientific 1959 ad founded by James J. Pandapas, a Massachusetts native who helped shape modern Blacksburg through industry and development. He launched Electro-Tec (1947) and PolyScientific (1953). developed Airport Acres (1942) and Highland Park (1945)
#BlacksburgHistory #VirginiaIndustry
#BlacksburgHistory #VirginiaIndustry
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
PolyScientific 1959 ad founded by James J. Pandapas, a Massachusetts native who helped shape modern Blacksburg through industry and development. He launched Electro-Tec (1947) and PolyScientific (1953). developed Airport Acres (1942) and Highland Park (1945)
#BlacksburgHistory #VirginiaIndustry
#BlacksburgHistory #VirginiaIndustry
1906 Letter to Rev Lucien M. Robinson from Rev Robert A Chase
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
1906 Letter to Rev Lucien M. Robinson from Rev Robert A Chase
VT War Memorial Chapel Pylons by Robert Turner, Jr
November 9, 2025 at 12:06 AM
VT War Memorial Chapel Pylons by Robert Turner, Jr
Blacksburg New School founded in 1971. Any graduates out there?
November 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Blacksburg New School founded in 1971. Any graduates out there?
Thomas-Connor House on Draper Road (courtesy of Montgomery Museum of Art & History)
November 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Thomas-Connor House on Draper Road (courtesy of Montgomery Museum of Art & History)
1937 Map of Merrimac Mine complex complied in 1996, including names of people living in company homes.
November 8, 2025 at 11:51 PM
1937 Map of Merrimac Mine complex complied in 1996, including names of people living in company homes.
Reposted by B-burg History
New EO to promote timber production on FS and BLM-with FWS implications related to the Endangered Species Act and NEPA..
(b) Within 60 days…the FWS…shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the ESA to improve the speed of approving forestry projects.
(b) Within 60 days…the FWS…shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the ESA to improve the speed of approving forestry projects.
March 2, 2025 at 11:03 AM
New EO to promote timber production on FS and BLM-with FWS implications related to the Endangered Species Act and NEPA..
(b) Within 60 days…the FWS…shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the ESA to improve the speed of approving forestry projects.
(b) Within 60 days…the FWS…shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the ESA to improve the speed of approving forestry projects.
Reposted by B-burg History
Some examples of research USGS does that is at risk with RIFs and restructuring:
- earth quake and volcano monitoring and warnings
- landslide risk assessments
- water quality testing
- wildlife conservation
- wildfire prevention and post-fire rehabilitation
- invasive species tracking
- earth quake and volcano monitoring and warnings
- landslide risk assessments
- water quality testing
- wildlife conservation
- wildfire prevention and post-fire rehabilitation
- invasive species tracking
March 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Some examples of research USGS does that is at risk with RIFs and restructuring:
- earth quake and volcano monitoring and warnings
- landslide risk assessments
- water quality testing
- wildlife conservation
- wildfire prevention and post-fire rehabilitation
- invasive species tracking
- earth quake and volcano monitoring and warnings
- landslide risk assessments
- water quality testing
- wildlife conservation
- wildfire prevention and post-fire rehabilitation
- invasive species tracking
Reposted by B-burg History
Since the president has signed an EO making English the official language of the United States, here is the first non-English copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in German just days after July 4, 1776. We have always been multilingual.
cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
March 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Since the president has signed an EO making English the official language of the United States, here is the first non-English copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in German just days after July 4, 1776. We have always been multilingual.
cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
Reposted by B-burg History
I beginning to think he has a bag of racism gummies that the takes before bed and then wakes up in the middle of the night dictating EOs
March 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I beginning to think he has a bag of racism gummies that the takes before bed and then wakes up in the middle of the night dictating EOs
Reposted by B-burg History
"After the service, the family carefully placed a photo of Hertweck in his military uniform on the ground amid the thousands of mementos honoring other fallen troops and slowly walked away..."
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Ukraine honors foreign fighters, Americans, as nation’s future on the brink
A family travels to Kyiv to bring home their Marine son who fell in the battle for Avdiivka as Trump and Zelensky meet over Ukraine’s future at the White House.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 2, 2025 at 5:56 AM
"After the service, the family carefully placed a photo of Hertweck in his military uniform on the ground amid the thousands of mementos honoring other fallen troops and slowly walked away..."
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Reposted by B-burg History
“It’s about standing up for democracy everywhere” Rep. @sarajacobs.house.gov weighs in on the Trump-Vance ambush of Zelenskyy, and why it’s important to maintain America’s relationships with its allies.
March 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
“It’s about standing up for democracy everywhere” Rep. @sarajacobs.house.gov weighs in on the Trump-Vance ambush of Zelenskyy, and why it’s important to maintain America’s relationships with its allies.
Reposted by B-burg History
“The time is always right to do what is right.” (Dr Martin Luther King, Jr)
March 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
“The time is always right to do what is right.” (Dr Martin Luther King, Jr)
Reposted by B-burg History
Beatrice Walker’s oral history at St. Luke Hall in 2013. As a Trustee, she helped save the building from condemnation. Her story reveals New Town’s erasure and Maggie Lena Walker’s lasting impact on Black financial empowerment in Blacksburg.
friendsofstlukeoddfellows.org/2025/02/18/b...
friendsofstlukeoddfellows.org/2025/02/18/b...
Beatrice Freeman Walker & St Luke
On December 17, 2013, Ms. Beatrice Walker recorded an oral history for Virginia Tech’s University Special Collections at the St. Luke, Odd Fellows, and Household of Ruth Hall. As a key figure in pr…
friendsofstlukeoddfellows.org
February 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Beatrice Walker’s oral history at St. Luke Hall in 2013. As a Trustee, she helped save the building from condemnation. Her story reveals New Town’s erasure and Maggie Lena Walker’s lasting impact on Black financial empowerment in Blacksburg.
friendsofstlukeoddfellows.org/2025/02/18/b...
friendsofstlukeoddfellows.org/2025/02/18/b...