ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Junius B. Fishburn helped to shape Roanoke through banking, publishing and philanthropy more than a century ago. Now, a new documentary will bring the story of his influence to the theatre.
“Where would the city be today and what would it look like if it were not for J.B. Fishburn?” is the question documentarians explore in the film ‘Mountain View: The Legacy of JB Fishburn.’ The film will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Grandin Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film screening starts at 7:00 p.m.
The movie will offer a look into the life of a businessman who shaped what we know today as the Star City. J.B. Fishburn was born in 1865 when Roanoke was a relatively isolated community of less than 5,000 people. Throughout his career, Fishburn rose through the ranks of the National Exchange Bank of Roanoke to become its president, according to the Library of Virginia. In 1918, he co-founded the Times-World Corp., which acquired The Roanoke Times and The Roanoke World News. Fishburn’s philanthropy can still be felt today. Later in life, he donated land for city parks, including Mill Mountain, and 2,500 acres to Virginia Tech…