Woodcliff in Roanoke, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Arthur Taubman

(1901-1994)

Photographed by Stephen Escalera

1. Arthur Taubman (1901-1994) Marker

Inscription. Arthur Taubman, a self-made businessman, was born in Astoria, NY. He moved to Roanoke in 1932 to acquire three Advance Stores. When he retired as president of Advance in 1969, the company had grown to 54 stores. Later known as Advance Auto Parts, the chain expanded nationwide. Taubman was cofounder and chairman of Alliance Tire and Rubber Co., which opened in Israel in 1952 and became that country’s largest exporter. During the World War II era, he signed hundreds of affidavits of support for European Jews to enter the U.S., claiming each as his cousin. A civic leader in Roanoke, he worked for the desegregation of public facilities in the 1960s. His residence was 0.7 miles south of here.

Erected 2024 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-184.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • War, World II.

Location. 37° 15.047′ N, 79° 56.865′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in Woodcliff. It is at the intersection of McClanahan Street Southwest and Carolina Avenue SW, on the right

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when traveling east on McClanahan Street Southwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 213 McClanahan St SW, Roanoke VA 24014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region

and in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Big Lick Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Great Roanoke Fair & Mountain Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Evan Mill and Crystal Spring (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Colonial Ford (approx. 0.3 miles away); Domestic Ducks (approx. 0.6 miles away); Red Panda (approx. 0.6 miles away); Northern Lynx (approx. 0.6 miles away); Myotonic Goats (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map

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of all markers in Roanoke.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.