July 12 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

Patrick Henry Lodge No. 82 Knights of Pythias members purchased $12,000 in bonds to finance the erection of “Castle Hall.” It would be a three-story building on the corner of Jones and Main Streets, land donated some years before by Mrs. Elizabeth P. Hairston for the purpose of erecting a memorial to her son Watt Hariston, who at the time of his death was a member of the Patrick Henry Lodge. The lot had remained empty for several years until in recent months it had been used for a service station by the O.D. Ford Motor Company, but that would be removed for the Pythian Castle, which would be a three-story brick building that would cost between $30,000 and $40,000. The first floor would be for a store; the second, for offices; and the third, for the lodge. Now, the building is owned by Dr. Mervyn and Virginia King, the benefactors who funded the construction of the annex of the MHC Heritage Museum, built to house their antiques collections. The first floor is rented to Martinsville-Henry County Connect Health; the second floor is the Kings’ residence; and the third floor is storage, including of many antiques which now are being moved to the museum for display.

75 years ago – 1950

The Korean War was getting started. The State Headquarters for Selective Service ordered Henry county draft board to send 52 men in 1A classification to an Army induction center for physical examination by July 21. The City so far had not received such orders (that would be the next day, requiring 10 men). Howard Bradshaw was the Henry county board chairman. The draft called men between the ages of 19 and 26, starting with the older men who had no dependents.

50 years ago – 1975

Bruce R. Branch Jr. of Rich Acres had built a miniature Mack truck for his three sons. The DuPont mechanic had spent less than $100 on the 8-foot truck, using mostly parts he had been given or found. He only had to buy the motor and transmission. The rig also had a 14-foot flatbed trailer. The truck had a 7 ½ horsepower lawnmower motor and would to up to 15 miles per hour. He built it for his sons Bruce Jr., 11, Jason, 7 and Jonah, 3. He built it on nights and weekends for five months, finishing in time to enter it in the Martinsville Christmas Parade. It was featured in the May issue of Popular Mechanics.

25 years ago - 2000

A house fire at 104 Azalea St., Stanleytown, killed James Newbill, 19, of Martinsville, and burned Mike Hamelin, 16, who lived in the house.

Dewey S. Odell of Ridgeway had an effective way of making sure three people who broke into the neighbor’s house would get caught: He went over to that house and got into the pickup which had been left with its doors open and engine running and drove it away. The neighbor whom the adult and two teenagers were attempting to rob was Odell’s son, at 600 Old Leaksville Road. Dewey Odell drove the truck from his son’s house to his own house and hid it in back, then went in and called 911. Meanwhile, the robber left the son’s house and were caught on Highway 87 near a Citgo gas station.

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