June 8 through time
100 Years ago – 1925
J.W. Minter’s store was at Broad street at the Norfolk & Western Station. It sold piece goods- voiles for 25 to 48 cents a yard; percale for 18 cents a yard; dimity for 48 cents a yard; ginghams for 12 ½ to 22 cents a yard; and chambray for 15 cents a yard. Ladies summer hats cost between $3.45 and $5.50.
That night, Minter’s store was broken into. One pair of men’s shoes and several pairs of children’s shoes were stolen.
75 years ago – 1950
Free chest X-rays were given to 538 people at the Southside Fire Station, conducted by the State Health Department and the Henry County Tuberculosis Association. It was the first of three days of the X-ray clinic. A total of 11,520 people got X-rayed.
50 years ago – 1975
More women were breastfeeding their babies, after the practice had become very rare in the U.S. Registered Nurse Marie Downey was a founding member of the local chapter of La Leche League International, an organization credited with leading the movement to bring breastfeeding back into the norm. Downey explained that in the 1930s, formula was the modern and scientific way to feed babies, and it largely replaced breastfeeding; but by 1975, women and the medical field were beginning to understand the importance of breastfeeding. Jane Iten also was a La Leche League member.
25 years ago - 2000
Professional Baseball Association consultant Gould-Evans informed the City that to meet professional baseball standards, Hooker Field would need new dugouts which would cost $30,000 each. The current ones were too small and did not have the necessary amenities. The standards would have to be met for the Houston Astros team to stay in Martinsville.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.