May 10 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

May 10-17 was designated by Mayor G.A. Brown as “Better Homes Week.” Demonstrations on household-related matters were given throughout the city. Merchants would have special window displays which together would add up to a fully furnished house, such as a bedroom in the C.W. Holt window and a kitchen in Pooles Hardware. Central Drug Co. displayed cleaning agents, and Mr. Townes’ store held a set dining room table. Kearfott’s displayed a small bathroom with all supplies. Richardson Electric showcased items “to please the ladies,” such as stove, sink and curling iron. Henry County children made posters to be displayed in the windows. Demonstrations at various stores included “Use of Sewing Machine Attachments,” In the contest “Henry County Girls to Be Better Homemakers,” girls were offered suggested for improving their rooms, even using old broken furniture.  At the end of 4 months, the girl who has made the most improvement in her room would be awarded first prize.

75 years ago – 1950

The local office of the Virginia State Employment Service listed 50 job openings, especially for skilled work in the lumber and furniture trades. Jobs open were for sawmillers, a veneer taper, a veneer repairman, a hardwood lumber grader, a case fitter, a flooring unit grader, painters, brick masons, salesmen (both male and female), taxi drivers, short order cooks, general office help (both male and female) and store clerks.

A Reidsville, N.C., company wanted to open a poultry processing plant in Martinsville on South Bridge street. City Council said that though such a plant could be operated in the B-2 business zone, that building was too close to a residential section to be used as a chicken plant.

25 years ago - 2000

William Edward “Billy” Mize, 47, of Highland Street in Bassett was sentenced to 51 years in prison for shooting Wanda Mize and Amanda Fackler on June 7, 1999.  Wanda Mize was his sister-in-law, and Amanda Fackler was her 13-year-old daughter and his stepniece. The girl was left blind.

Between 500 and 600 people attended the funeral of 13-year-old Brandon Lee Moore of Collinsville, who had died when he and a friend were playing with guns. The Rev. Joe Geriatelli told people at the funeral that the boys was known as the “king of roller skates” at Roll-A-Bout Skating Center.

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