March 30

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 Years ago – 1924

Classified ads: NuBONE Corsets: A Nationally Known Good Product. I will be glad to call on you in the privacy of your own home and take your measure for a corset that will give you style without sacrifice of comfort. Mrs. H.A. Knight, Fieldale. / LOST-Child’s glasses in case with Dr. G.B. Dudley’s name and address. Finder will please leave them at Bulletin office and receive reward. Address Glasses, care Bulletin Office. / Wanted – 2 or 3 unfurnished rooms for light housekeeping by March 28. Write what you have. Address “Reliable” care Bulletin.

75 years ago – 1949

Fontaine Converting Works Employee James Lawson, 18, was seriously injured by an electric shock he got when he touched a machine at the plant. It knocked him unconscious. He was released from the hospital the next day.

1960

Fred’s Skateland in Collinsville offered a coupon for $.35 cents off their Tuesday Night skate, making entry $.15. Their phone number was MI 7-4621. MI was the abbreviation for Midway, since Collinsville was midway between Martinsville and Bassett.

50 years ago – 1974

Larry Jefferson, 24, died in a crash at the Blue Ridge Airport when the 1974 Cessna Skyhawk II he was piloting approached the airport. It crashed in a field about 300 yards before the runway. He was the airport’s first fatality. He had been taking lessons from Ed’s Flying Service, which owned the plane.

25 years ago – 1999

Flamboyant boxing promotor Don King was in town to testify on behalf of heavyweight boxer Oliver McCall. McCall was in jail on charges of resisting arrest and assault and battery of a law enforcement officer. King’s testimony lasted 40 minutes, urging McCall’s release so that he could resume training. The judge agreed to release him on May 1 on condition he remain in a drug rehabilitation program. King said that he would provide help for McCall in a training camp in Ohio.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.