July 18 through the years
100 Years ago – 1925
The Barrow Mill 4-H Club held an Eskimo Party at the Barrows Mill schoolhouse. The Ridgeway and Fontaine 4-H Clubs competed in a spelling bee at Fontaine.
Legal notice in the July 17, 1925, Henry Bulletin: “Phone No. 404 – Martinsville Dry Cleaning Co. Near N&W Station – ANNOUNCEMENT – We wish to inform the public that we have fully paid claims for damages to clothing incident to the blaze at our plant on July 4. The following customers who had clothing burned are perfectly satisfied with the settlement made: Messrs. Edward Eggleston, $50.00; J.C. Blackwell, $12.00; O.T. McCray, $30.00; Tilman Lester, $10.00; W.W. Byrd, $10.00; Edward Davis, $30.00; Claude Turner, $15.00; J.H. Chitwood, $3.50; Lester Bennett, $6.50; Nick Martin, $25.00; Otho Harris, $15.00; Total, $217.00. All claims, with the exception of one customer who is out of town, were settled July 13. It is our policy to protect our customers by carrying insurance …”
75 years ago – 1950
Stores in Stuart returned to wartime rationing of sugar, after heavy demand from shoppers (this time, the war was the Korean War). Most of the larger stores allowed 10 pounds of sugar per person, but many of the smaller stores kept the limit to 5 pounds. Many stores had run out of sugar.
Founder of Henry County Chapter Red Cross Miss Bess Tuggle was honored by the Red Cross for her 30 years of service, with a banquet at Club Martinique. She helped organize it during World War I when she saw the need, after seeing the Red Cross at work in California.
50 years ago – 1975
Martinsville police were investigating a string of break-ins in which $150,000 worth of jewelry and silver had been stolen from homes since the start of the year. The latest victim was Mrs. Robert Fagg, who reported that thieves who broke the glass out of the front door stole $50,000 worth. Jewel Hagwood was the detective investigating.
25 years ago - 2000
BB&T created an advisory board for the Martinsville area, and its first members were Christopher Beeler of Virginia Glass, Terry Cundiff of G.S. Industries, Keven Farrell of Tri State Foam Products, Michael Farrington of Furniture Crafters of Virginia, Michael P. Haley of American of Martinsville, Larry Hutchens of Hutchens Petroleum, Langhorne Maucke, retired educator, Rev. Tyler Millner, James E. Rountree of Piedmont Community Services and Paulette Simington of Patrick Henry Elementary School.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.