Cherry Hill, Roanoke, Virginia facts for kids

Cherry Hill is a neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia, located in the far western part of the city. It shares borders with several other neighborhoods like Ridgewood Park, Wilmont, Greater Deyerle, Raleigh Court, Norwich, Hurt Park, and Shenandoah West. The western side of Cherry Hill is right next to the city of Salem. Today, a main road called Virginia State Route 117 (Peters Creek Road) runs through the neighborhood. The Norfolk Southern Railway tracks also run along its southern edge.

Early History of Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill became part of the city of Roanoke in 1976. Before that, it was part of Roanoke County. The oldest houses in the neighborhood were built in the late 1950s. You can find these older homes in the northwestern part of Cherry Hill. As you go further south and east along Cherryhill Road and Frances Drive, the houses were built in the 1960s.

Before the Neighborhood Was Built

Before Cherry Hill Park (its original name) was developed, two older buildings stood here:

• A two-story wooden house on top of "Cherry Hill." This house was built in the early 1900s.
• A beautiful two-story brick hotel built by the N&W Railway in the 1800s. This hotel was located at the end of Cherryhill Circle.

Cherry Hill was once a small strip of Roanoke County that separated the cities of Salem and Roanoke. When the neighborhood was new, it attracted people looking for bigger and better homes. Many early residents worked at the General Electric plant in Salem, which opened in 1956. However, people from many other Roanoke area companies also moved here.

How Cherry Hill Was Developed

Byron Lewis (BL) Radford started developing Cherry Hill Park in 1956 or 1957. He built most of the homes.

Types of Homes

Most of the homes built in the late 1950s were single-story Rambler or Ranch style houses. They usually had three bedrooms, a kitchen with a dining area, a living room, and one bathroom. These Ranch homes also came with a full basement.

Some early homes were also Split-Level styles or L-shaped Ranch homes. Later, Splanch-style homes were built.

Most Ranch-style homes are made of brick and come in two main floor plans. Some also have a covered carport, and their basements might extend under the carport. Split-level homes used a mix of brick and wood siding. All homes have a driveway. Splanch-style homes mostly use wood siding with some brick.

Building Homes Quickly

In the beginning, Mr. Radford built homes very quickly to meet the high demand. Sometimes, this rush meant that some steps in construction were missed. This led to some structural problems in a few homes a few years later.

Mr. Radford named two streets after his daughters: Nancy Drive and Nancy Circle were named after Nancy, and Frances Drive was named after Frances.

Changes in the 1970s

In 1976, Cherry Hill became part of Roanoke City. Before this, Roanoke City and Salem City did not share a border. This change meant that people living in Cherry Hill would now be residents of Roanoke City.

Moving and Schools

When the news of the annexation came out, many residents were affected. Some did not want to be part of Roanoke City or send their children to Roanoke City schools. Many families started planning to move. By the mid-1970s, many houses were for sale.

The 1970s brought many changes to the areas around Cherry Hill. Some residents felt worried about these changes. When the first African-American families moved into Cherry Hill, they faced difficulties. However, some families stayed for many years.

By 1975 to 1976, many families decided to move out of the neighborhood. Houses took a long time to sell. Some people wanted to sell their homes only to certain buyers. But by 1977, many residents were so eager to move that they no longer cared who bought their house. Most families who moved went to Roanoke County or the City of Salem. A small number moved to Botetourt County.

For families who stayed, their children had to attend Roanoke City Schools starting in the fall of 1977. For example, high school students who went to Andrew Lewis High School in Salem now had to go to William Fleming High School in Roanoke City. Junior high students from Salem Intermediate School now attended Lucy Addison Junior High School in Roanoke City.

Cherry Hill Park Today

Since the 1970s, Cherry Hill Park has seen some decline. Even before the economic downturn from 2007 to 2013, many homes, lawns, and streets showed signs of needing more care.