Looking Back …
A look at the people and happenings of the area over the past 100 years
If you have information, pictures, artifacts, old company or church newsletters, family letters or anything else that sheds light on life in MHC-Patrick through time, please consider sharing them with the museum - either lending or gifting us the originals, or copies.
To search from the items on this page only:
To search the entire website:
March 6 through the century
1926, Patrick County apples; 1951, half the women asked agreed to serve on jury; 1976, big win for Bulldogs; 2001, MS Walk. (PHOTO: Chatmoss plantation home entrance hall. House burned in 1928.)
March 5 through the years
1926, apple growers’ trip; 1951, hot-wired and stolen; 1976, City Council candidates; 2001, pageant winners Devon Robinson, Amanda Herndon, Indya Penn and Lauren Martin. (PHOTO: Presbyterian Church on Church Street facing Broad Street)
March 4 through the years
1926, death at factory'; 1951, booklets on atomic war dropped from airplane; 1976, disco; 2001, Commonwealth Centre. PHOTO: Rives Theatre
March 3 through the years
1926, remains of Hamilton Hotel; 1951, Boy Scouts; 1976, controversial county administrator resigns; 2001, Patrick Community Hospital plan approved. (PHOTO: The Tuggle home on Church Street in 1960, between Globmans and Lee Telephone, about to be demolished. It now is a parking lot..)
March 2 through the years
1926, Virginia Historic Highway; 1951, Elks Club dinner-dance; 1976, drug bust; 2001, polygraph tests in murder of Lisa Thomas.
March 1 through the years
1926, arrested for cussing out the operator; 1951, shortages; 1976, Virginia Windle’s historical clothing; 2001, new economic development organization. (PHOTO: Fire at Watt Hairston building, looking downhill on Jones Street. Courthouse is at the right)
Fourth Week of February, 1926, 1951, 1976, 2001
Rabies epidemic; Gravely Furniture Co. begins; excitement over school cafeteria; Men regularly drafted into the Korean War; city bus service; county administrator’s wife strikes back. (PHOTO: Starling Avenue Baptist Church and the barber shop which used to be beside it)
Third Week of February, 1926, 1951, 1976, 2001
2-Day Farmers Institute in Axton; Civilian Defense Corps (during the Red Scare) to grow; hostages in 2001 store hold-up; Jaycees’ Brotherhood Week; petition for investigation of county administrator; Dale Earnhardt’s death. PHOTO: Floyd’s Cash Store on Cleveland Avenue
Feb. 11 through time
1926, Farmers Institute in Axton; 1951, toddlers die in fire caused by heat source; 1976, Arts and Crafts Club; 2001, Divine Essence Hair Salon with Linda Young, Linda Wilson and MaCray Huff.
Feb. 10 through the years
1926, Henry Co.’s share in Shenandoah Park cost; 1951, prediction from Mexico; 1976, high school class project is to build a house; 2001, great year for Nationwide. (PHOTO: Sandy Beach Resort, between the Smith River and Appalachian Drive.)
February 9 through the years
20 women vacation in Florida; Blue Ridge Farm Museum being built; death of Christopher Francisco. (PHOTO: Astor Cafe and Chief Tassel Building)
February 8 through the years
“I ain’t never seen so many blue lights” as police chase of 12-yearo-old; CB radio jargon popular; B’nai' B’rith chapter to host state convention. (PHOTO: illustrations of Henry County’s previous jails)
February 7 through the years
Civilian Defense program; county employees quit in response to new county administrator; runaway inmate falls into the arms of guards (PHOTO: mid-century aerial view of Martinsville)
February 6 through the years
Joint funeral services for Martinsville Seven brothers; Twin Ridge Marina; “The Amway Way” PHOTO: The Martinsville Seven, who were executed during the first week of February, 1951)
February 5 through the years
The last of the Martinsville Seven executions and a funeral for Frank Hairston Jr., 21; three stolen cars; a refrigerator advertised as Valentine’s Day present; attorney’s license suspended. (PHOTO: The very first Globman’s can be seen second building from the right. “ A. Globman “ on the front top of building,his name was Abe Globman)
February 4 through the years
New Thomas Jefferson Hotel planned for site of the burned Hamilton Hotel (photo); Winston-Salem insults Martinsville; the first of the funerals of the Martinsville Seven; SPCA tries to stop dangerous spaying practices; City departments scrutinized.
February 3 through the years
Community meetings for farmers - plan for new Presbyterian Church - City Council candidates - Donna Massey’s tanning and nail salon. (PHOTO: First Presbyterian adds steeple in 1959; in 1951, petitions were signed to get it started.)
February 2 through the years
Four Martinsville men executed - landfill problems - beginnings of the EDC (PHOTO: An exhibit at the MHC Heritage Museum about the Martinsville Seven)
February 1 through the years
Final appeal for the Martinsville Seven - helicopter crash in Collinsville - hiring 150 after laying off 52. (PHOTO: Old location of the fire and police departments on Main Street)
Fourth week of January, 1926-2001
Sisters swindle the March of Dimes - remaining Philpott residents told to leave - school board rides school buses for school consolidation - Winston-Salem insults Martinsville - father & son reunite in jail after 23 years - explosions at Stuart mill - 1924 Christian colony at Buffalo Ridge. (PHOTO: Kearfott & Sons, Public Square, around 1900)