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

Many if not all of us have ventured up to the Mill Mountain Star at one time or another. It’s very difficult to miss for residents and tourists alike.

But, there’s another marker in the form of a memorial that is just at the entrance to the Mill Mountain Park.

For years before I have traveled to the Star and had not even noticed the memorial, but on this particular visit I made a point to stop and check it out.

It’s a memorial for J.B. Fishburn and is best described by reading from words on the face:

Honoring

1865 J.B. Fishburn 1955

Pinoneer citizen, Publisher, Banker, Businessman, and Philantropist, he watched the tiny hamlet of Big Lick grow into the thriving town and city of Roanoke. He founded the Times-World Corporation, helped organize the First National Exchange Bank of Virginia and participated in numerous business and industrial ventures, ever keeping in mind the recreational needs of people.

Through his generosity and vision, he and his family contributed Mill Mountain, South Roanoke, Wasena, Lakewood, and Norwich parks to the City and Fairystone State Park to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In a final bequest he willed his lovely home and grounds “Mountain View” to the City for its park and recreational headquarters.

It was his dream to link the Blue Ridge Parkway with Mill Mountain, thus enabling Parkway visitors to share with local citizens the matchless view and to create here a great park for posterity.

In his memory and in appreciation for his many gifts, this scenic road joining the park and the city was gratefully dedicated as

THE J.B. FISHBURN PARKWAY
May 17, 1971

Erected by the City of Roanoke, June 24, 1975
*****

J.B. Fishburn Memorial on Mill Mountain, near the entrance to Mill Mountain Park. The road in the background leads up to the Star.