Noke Novelties are interesting aspects, picturesque moments, and other quaint nuances of or about the Roanoke area.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a historic stone marker that was placed along Ferdinand Avenue. I had seen that particular marker on numerous occasions but never bothered to check it out. I travel this route heading to work nearly everyday and have for a couple years.

Historic Stone Marker at the Intersection of Ferdinand Avenue and Riverland Blvd

But, I had missed, and never even noticed until the other day, another stone marker that is placed in a median at the intersection of Ferdinand Avenue and Riverside Blvd.

If you travel this road even occasionally, perhaps you have overlooked this rather distinct historic marker also.

Well, that’s why Noke News is here! Let’s check it out:

This stone reads:

THIS TABLET MARKS AN INDIAN TRAIL FROM A TORTERAS VILLAGE IN THE FORK OF ROANOKE RIVER AND TINKER CREEK, JOINING THE INDIAN WARRIOR’S TRAIL, THE GREAT PATH, WHICH PASSED THROUGH BUFORD’S GAP, THE BIG LICK, NOW A PART OF ROANOKE CITY, AND ON WESTWARD THROUGH CUMBERLAND GAP

Once again, I’m at a loss for words. However, I can’t help but on some level take comfort in the history that is Roanoke.

On a lighter note, the tablet reminds me of a short story…

I was in elementary school at Penn Forest and as part of a history lesson we were taught about Roanoke’s previous informal name, Big Lick. And for fun as an entire grade we voted whether or not we would prefer the name of this city to remain Roanoke, or be changed back to Big Lick. Well, yours truly was one I think of only two or three students total to vote for Big Lick!

I was just a kid then, but sometimes it really doesn’t seem like all that long ago.