Your connection to the past and the building blocks of our community’s future …
Blue Jeans & Bling, where fancy and laid back meet, is the MHC Historical Society’s signature annual fun fall affair.
The MHC Heritage Museum’s exciting new annex is the place for revelry on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event will start with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The classic autumn meal will feature pulled pork barbecue, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, rolls, cornbread and cake.
Entertainment will include music by Jake Earles, a silent auction full of goodies at good deals, and a 50/50 raffle. The first two drinks are on us, and then a cash bar will provide the rest. Your ticket to the event also grants you admission to both sections of the museum: the former Henry County courthouse, built in 1824, which showcases local history, and the 13,000-square-foot annex, built in 2024, which showcases the exquisite King Collections of antiques.
Tickets cost $50 per person or $350 for a table for eight. To order tickets, visit www.mhchistoricalsociety.org; or visit the museum at 1 E. Main St. Martinsville, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; see any MHC Historical Society board member; or call 276-403-5361.
CLICK HERE to buy a single admission ticket for $50.
CLICK HERE to buy a table for eight for $350.
Celebrations!
The ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebrations for the new 13,000 annex were held Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5. Pictured at left are (from left) Dylan Chappell, Jim Adams, Danny Turner, Davis Scott, Jack Stewart, Andy Doss, Graves Anthony, Dr. Mervyn and Mrs. Virginia King, Ann Martin (behind the Kings), Holly Kozelsky, Joe Williams, W.C. Fowlkes, Mike Bass, Michael Sanguedolce, Randy Hundley, Kathy Lawson, Virgil Goode Jr. and Johnny Nolen.
The 2025-26 MHCHS Membership Year began June 1. There still is time to renew your membership, if you haven’t already. If you are not part of us yet - join us! Benefits start with free admission to our 25,000-square-foot museum, which features both local history and nationally significant antiques, and much more.
Each day, this column tells you what happened here 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. Relive the times of legendary and forgotten stores and businesses - clubs - churches - and people, as well as politics and the other “big” news.
Made possible by new staff member Davis Scott (pictured here) plus our regular volunteer hosts Johnny Nolen, Michael Sanguedolce and Jack Stewart.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Field trips & classes
The MHC Heritage Museum offers tours to classes and groups, such as Martinsville Middle School in May 2025 (above). Specialists from the MHC Historical Society also give classes and programs to community groups and schools on your choice of topics. Email kozelsky@mhchs@gmail.com for information.
MHC Heritage Museum
1 East Main Street (former Henry County courthouse); open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
The former courthouse features several exhibits on local history. Topics include means of communication; home sewing; the tobacco heritage; the furniture and textile industries which created great wealth in the area; local musicians; area nightlife; military; and more.
Construction on a 13,000-square-foot addition to the museum was completed in August 2024. It houses the King Collections of fascinating, rare and valuable antiques including Native American artifacts, trains, tools, a gambling parlor, firearms, ivory, early machines, baskets and pottery, dollhouses, medical devices, steam whistles, locks, horse tack and much, much more..
13,000-square-foot annex
Programs & Events
The Historical Society offers a range of programs including:
Graves Anthony and Hunter Haskins will present a program on distilling, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Society’s signature social and fundraising event, Blue Jeans & Bling, will be held on Oct. 4.
The popular Ghost Walk, will return on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 1.
Jake Abell, of Scuffle Hill Brewing, will present a program on cider, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.
Facility
The courthouse was built in 1824, significantly expanded in 1929 and retired from county use in 1996, when the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society was formed to preserve it. The stately structure is available for rent for weddings, meetings, reunions, shows and more.
“I know of no way of judging the future than by the past.”
— Patrick Henry (1736-1799); Founding Father, Virginia Governor and Henry County planter