May 15 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

 The Martinsville Literary Club presented “‘Springtime’ – a musical comedy of three generations: Hoop Skirts 1868, Bustles 1888, Flappers 1925.” The cast numbered 130. The show was held at the High School auditorium. Admission cost 75 cents, to benefit crippled children of the county.

75 years ago – 1950

Mail service to all residential areas in Martinsville was cut – down to just one delivery per day. The business district still would receive two deliveries of mail each day, like normal. The cutback on residential delivery was due to an order from the Post Office to cut services across the nation. In response, all routes in the city were consolidated; about 60% of homes would receive mail in the morning, and the other 40% would receive it in the afternoons.

50 years ago – 1975

Carver Parkway in Carver Heights was changed to a dead-end road due to construction of the US 220 Bypass. It had run from Carver Road in Fieldale to State Road 781.

25 years ago - 2000

The building of the former Rumley’s Restaurant was torn down, to make room for an Advance Auto to go in its place. Rumley’s opened in 1974. It was known for its hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, onion rings and milkshakes. It started as an extension of a gas station Joyce Rumley’s husband had run since 1943. Mr. Rumley died in 1998 at the age of 80. He had been a member of the Martinsville High School Boosters and Touchdown clubs and the Martinsville Recreation Association, and he sponsored a number of athletic and bowling teams. Their trophies were displayed in the restaurant. He received awards for community service, including Martinsville Exchange Club’s Golden Book of Deeds and the Citizen of the Year 1986 from Martinsville Police Department. The restaurant was sold to Wayne Morley in 1992, then to Josetta Thomas in 1994. She closed it a few years later.

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