Perhaps no phrase better epitomizes the charm of Americana than "Main Street." Here's a selection of two dozen photos that give a glimpse of the history of Main Street in downtown Lynchburg.
Main St. looking west from approximately 10th St. Probably taken between 1910 and 1920.
Lumsden and Hamner Drug Store 1113 Main St., date unknown.
This is the earliest photo of Main Street in our archives, a circa-1900 look at Main Street, as seen from 7th Street.
Sept. 1, 1943 - Lynchburg Gas Company at 600 Main St., now part of the Academy Center of the Arts complex. It houses the Academy's galleries and offices.
March 21, 1954 - Perrow-Evans Firm Moving - One of the oldest business firms in Lynchburg, Perrow-Evans Hardware Corp., is leaving its present location at 1216-18 Main St., and moving to 1500 Campbell Ave.
November 5, 1959 - Toy Store Owner - Robert R. Jefferies, owner and proprietor of the new Jefferies Toy Store, at 710 Main St., poses among the items that stock his place of business.
November 23, 1962 - Renovation Slated - Former Neisner Bros. variety store building here at 908-12 Main St. will soon get a new look and a new tenant. The building, which has been vacant since December 1960, will be the home of Raylass Department Store by March 1, 1963. Raylass is presently located at 1005 Main St.
August 31, 1964 - New Dome Shoes opening at 1000 Main St.
Jan. 2, 1965 - Laundry Improvements - Work continues on a modernization program at former Hill City Laundry, 1344 Main St. The name of the old Lynchburg firm was changed recently to Bonne Brae by new owner James I. Brebner, who purchased firm from James E. Smith. Modernization includes razing the century-old structure at the corner of Main and Washington streets. Washington Street will be widened by 10 feet and a new loading facility is included at side entrance to building. Contractor for project is L.L. Zechini Jr.
December 6, 1965 - Improvements - Changes to the front of Phillip's Brother, Inc., 905 Main St. are shown in this photograph. Firm also has made renovations on interior.
August 4, 1965 - Hold formal opening - Here is an exterior view of the new headquarters of Lynchburg service branch of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., 1606 Main St. Firm is holding its formal opening in new quarters today through Saturday.
August 24, 1966 - Market Structure Razed - This old structure, which formerly housed the Dutch Market at 1125 Main St., is being razed for Vaughan Properties, Inc., which recently bought the property for the Noland estate for $21,000 for use in expansion of Vaughan Tire and Appliance Co. which is located at 12th and Church streets. The former Dutch Market property is behind that appliance store.
October 19, 1966 - New Fabric Center - Stratton's Direct Mill Outlet fabric center is holding grand opening at its new and enlarged store at 716 Main St. at 10 a.m. today. William D. Stratton, owner, said new quarters, located adjacent to former store, has about eight times the amount of space of old store and about 10 times the amount of stock, which is offered at direct mill prices.
Dec. 26, 1966 -- Main Street is empty in the post-Christmas shopping lull.
March 2, 1967: Main Street Decorations -- Members of Art Wing at the Fine Arts Center Wednesday threw their talents into helping decorate an otherwise uninteresting blank barricade in the 1000 block of Main St. Carolyn and Penny Owen express pleasure at the colorful, comic decorations. The barricade went up in front of the former John's Bargain Store, 1005 Main St., which is being remodeled for the future home of J.E. Wood's men's store, presently located at 1003 Main St. The suggestion to help brighten the Main Street construction came from John D. Pantaze, managing director of Downtown Lynchburg, Inc.
June 5, 1969: Setting up a new store -- Dallas Campbell, who has been manager of the Glen-More Clothing Co. at 823 Main St. for nine years, stands in front of the new Glen-More store that opened today at 917 Main St. Campbell said the store would hold opening festivities for the customers today through Saturday. The new store is a branch of Glen-More Clothing Co., which has its main offices in Knoxville, Tenn.
August 14, 1969 - Grand Opening - Mrs. Theasy Pollard stands in front of Eleanor Shop, 915 Main St., which holds its grand opening today through Saturday. Mrs. Pollard, store manager, says store is much larger than previous quarters it occupied at 818 Main St. Eleanor Shop, a chain-store with headquarters in New York City, opened in Lynchburg in March 1960. Mrs Pollard has been the manager since the opening.
February 27, 1975 - Cleaning up unsafe debris, firemen Wednesday had weakened walls leveled. The fire and explosion killed two firemen and destroyed four buildings in the 700 block of Main St. The block in now occupied by the Pacific Life Building, formerly First Colony.
1982 - Army Navy Store. located at 1109-13 Main St. The structure was undergoing renovation in late 1983, when a structural failure caused a large portion of the building to collapse. It was subsequently demolished.
April 16, 1983 - Former employees of the Paramount Theater gathered for a reunion in front of the Main St. building.
September 1, 1983 - Long home to the Army Navy Sales Company at 1109-13 Main St. the structure, know as the Hancock - Moorman Building was undergoing renovation in late 1983, when a structural failure caused a large portion of the roof to collapse. It was subsequently found to be unsafe for work to continue and the building was demolished.
The former Lynchburg National Bank building at 901 Main St. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, in Lynchburg, Va.
The Main St. Bridge nears completion in Lynchburg on November 5, 2018.
The City Auditorium building at 1112 Main St. is shown in this February 2019 file photo.
