July 23 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

 Ad for C.P. Kearfott & Sons On the Square: “Summertime is Kodak Time. Keep a Kodak record of your summer vacation. Kodak the children and the pets. Kodak Albums $1.00 to $4.00 – Kodaks $6.00 to $35.00 – Brownies $2.75 to $8.00”

Electricity was still out in Martinsville between 1-6 p.m. each day, because the town turned off the power supply during those hours due to low water levels on the Smith River which did not generate enough electricity.

75 years ago – 1950

Classified ads, General Services: Berlou mothproofing for winter clothes, by Virginia Cleaners; Price & Wooldridge for estimates on canvas and aluminum awnings and venetian blind repair; Roto-Rooter to clear clogged sewers & drains by Frost & Co.; floor sanding and finishing, plus lay asphalt tile inlaid linoleum, by Morris Hardware Corp. redwood awnings for permanent shade & ventilation plus asbestos siding for looks, warmth and permanency, by Helms & Hill at 205 Railroad street; septic tanks cleaned, built and repaired by Frost & Co., 218 ½ Main St.; neon and commercial signs, window wall, truck lettering etc. by Martinsville Neon Co.; Smith’s Radio Shop in the basement of Southside Cab Stand and upholstery cleaning by Patterson Upholstery Cleaning Service.

50 years ago – 1975

Two Bassett teenagers were charged in connection with the theft of a safe that had held $50,000 in bonds, certificates of deposit, guns and silver dollars. The safe had been stolen from the home of H.D. Eanes, the former owner of Eanes Grocery Store in Bassett. Everything except some of the silver coins was recovered.

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