Board Members
Graves Anthony, president
Jake Abell, vice president
Hunter Haskins, secretary
W.C. Fowlkes, treasurer
Mike Bass
Bob Bushnell
Joshua Duncan
April Haynes
Steve Keyser
Virginia King
Andrew Mullins
Andrew Palmer
Jack Stewart
Joe Williams
The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to which are deductible to the full extent of the law. The Historical Society’s current financial statement is available upon request. Information submitted to the State of Virginia under the Charitable Solicitations Act is available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage.
Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society
1 East Main Street
Martinsville, VA 24112
276-403-5361
Federal I.D. Number: 54-1819472
Message from the MHCHS president
By Graves Anthony
As summer fades and the first crisp mornings arrive, Martinsville and Henry County take on a beauty all their own. The rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge burst into color—maples glowing red, hickories turning golden, and oaks deepening into russet. For generations, fall has been more than a season here; it has been a time of gathering, reflection, and preparation.
Historically, autumn marked the busiest stretch of the year for local families. Farmers harvested corn, apples, and tobacco, storing away provisions for the winter months.
Communities came together for corn shuckings, cider pressings, and church suppers—events that blended hard work with fellowship. In Patrick and Henry Counties alike, the season was also tied to the legacy of legal and family distilling, when apples and corn found new life in carefully crafted spirits that warmed the colder days ahead.
Fall also carried a sense of renewal in education and civic life. Schools reopened, court sessions resumed, and local elections often coincided with the turning leaves. The rhythms of the season reminded residents that while the year was winding down, community life was still in full motion.
Today, the people of MHC continue to celebrate fall with festivals, football games, and scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The traditions may have shifted, but the spirit remains the same: a season that invites us to honor our past while enjoying the present.
As we admire the colors across our hillsides and gather with neighbors, we are reminded that fall is not just a transition of weather, but a reminder of continuity—of how each generation has found meaning in the turning of the year.
Past presidents
Staff
Holly Kozelsky, Executive Director
Holly Kozelsky is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a former editor of the Martinsville Bulletin.
She and her daughter, Mary, live in Dyer’s Store/Leatherwood, on the former Irvin Minter farm, where they enjoy gardening (flowers and vegetables) and have chickens.
In 2024-25 she is the co-chair of the local Historic Garden Week, and will be its chair in 2025-26. She runs the Facebook page “Obituaries MHC,” the only source of all local obituaries, updated four times a day, and free to the public, with no advertising.
Davis Scott, Staff Aide
Davis Scott, a 2023 graduate of Bassett High School, is a student of Patrick & Henry Community College.
Before joining the staff at the Heritage Museum, he volunteered with the Historical Society for 3 years, including serving on the Board of Directors.
He is the son of Ricky Scott of Collinsville and the late Lisa Lawson Scott. He enjoys cooking and collecting antiques.
“You’re never too young to learn about the old days,” Scott says.
Deborah Stone, Bookkeeper
Long time MHCHS volunteer Deborah Stone is now the bookkeeper and office manager for the Historical Society. She was a school/administrative secretary for Henry County Public Schools for 38 years and also previously served the Society as bookkeeper before the pandemic. She is a member of Smith River Singers and attends Horsepasture Christian Church. She also volunteers at the Spencer-Penn Centre.
She and her husband, David, live in Spencer. She has one daughter, April Haynes, and two grandchildren.