April 21

100 Years ago – 1925

Front-page article in the Henry Bulletin: “Splendid Woman Dies At Preston. – Mrs. Walter Bassett Dies After Short Illness from Pneumonia. … Mrs. Bassett was well known in Martinsville, and her sudden death will come as a great shock to those who knew here, as one of the most beautiful and useful of women in all the county. For more than twenty years now, she had filled a very large and unique place in the life of the community, being an enthusiastic worker in the W.C.T.U., the club work being done throughout the county under the leadership of Miss Bratten, and teacher of the largest young men’s class in all our rural churches …”

75 years ago – 1950

A concert by the Martinsville high school band and the Patrick Henry school band was held in the auditorium of Patrick Henry Elementary School. It was the first of several fundraisers to get money for new playground equipment for the school, which just had opened in January. The auditorium was packed, and the concert raised $383. The goal was to raise a total of $1,000 to buy swings, slides, see-saws and parallel bars. The fundraising committee was composed of Pres J. Monchon as chair, Mrs. R.L. Whitener, Mrs. Leon Globman, John W. Shultz, George Branham, Jeff Eggleston and Leonard Garrett.

50 years ago – 1975

Dentist C.E. Ayers won the quilt and Clarence Jenkins of 22 Clay St. won the afghan which were raffled off by ANCHOR House I. They had been made by staff and residents of the two youth homes.

25 years ago – 2000

More than 250 children searched for their share of 2,000 Easter eggs at Easter Egg Hunt 2000 at Kings Mountain Park. The hunt was co-sponsored by Henry County Parks & Recreation Department and the Collinsville Jaycees. Susan Kanode of the Parks & Recreation Department helped organize it.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.