The Virginia Tech Library has from its geology library a large collection of aerial photographs from various time periods covering different counties in Virginia. There are photos from the 1930s, 1950s, and 1970s.
Here is a section of a 1953 overflight of Giles County showing the Virginian power plant at Narrows, taken on November 8, 1953.
Here is the full view of the portion of the top part of the full photo that the section was cropped from:
(those with a fast connection can click on the image to see a larger version -- it is a 30MB file, 15626 X 5285).
Here is a section of a 1953 overflight of Giles County showing the Klotz quarry operation, across the New River from Ripplemead, taken on November 8, 1953.
