May 13 through the years
100 Years ago – 1925
C.W. Holt Co. advertised a “Fashion Forecast a Summer of Gay Color” including “real Chinese Lace Dresses” – and also “Reproductions of French models are included in this group – an indication of the high quality and decided epic of the frocks in the selection. The variety of style is pleasing – the size range complete. More than likely you will find just the dress you have been looking for in your size, and at a price that you won’t mind paying. Printed Crepe Dresses, $6.75 to $22.72; Plain colored Crepes and Georgettes, $11.75 to $27.50; English Broadcloth Dresses in the new stripes and plaids, $11.75 to $17.50.”
75 years ago – 1950
Brownie Troop 16 of Starling Avenue Baptist Church had a weiner roast at City Park, hosted by their leaers, Mrs. John D. Martin and Mrs. A.H. Deal. The Brownies who attended were Barbara Caney, Rebecca Cannaday, Bonnie Cheshire, Ina Cooper, Carolyn Deal, Neil Hancock, Arlene Kendrick, Patricia Lawrence, Shelie Martin, Martha Rogers, Josephine Slaydon, Elizabeth Wiggington, Glora Jean Clark, Judy Pegram, Betty Ann Roach and Marie Clark.
50 years ago – 1975
The county’s Canine Committee decided to improve Henry County’s dog pound. It was a 10- by 20-foot fenced area on Dog Warden L.E. Kidd’s property south of Axton. They decided to partition the pens to separate male and female dogs, put in more metal barrels for shelter, improve feed and water facilities, and clean the lot. Meanwhile, the committee asked County Administrator John Longmire to check into using county property for a possible site for a dog pound and have county engineer Gerard Seeley develop plans and cost estimates for a properly built facility.
25 years ago - 2000
The Lowe’s on Virginia Avenue at Commonwealth opened. Its former location was in Ridgeway. The new Lowe’s had cost $15 million to build. The store employe about 190 or 196 people, with lightly more than half being new employees. Salaried employees had been work 60 hours a week to get it open, and hourly employees had been working between 40 and 45 hours a week.
Patrick Henry Community College’s Class of 2000, which was graduated on this day, was the largest yet, at 318 students.
Steve Harris of Cascade died from burns he received in a fire in April, when he and his cousin, Ronnie Harris, were working on a vehicle at Chatmoss Auto Parts. Ronnie Harris had died the week before.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.