May 21 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

City Council reduced the allowable amount of water during the dry weather of summer months from the minimum charge of $4 for 3 months, from 15,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons. Ten thousand gallons would give each home an average of a little over 100 gallons a day for the minimum charge. The town was trying to secure rights of way for the pumphouse site for an additional water supply from Beaver Creek but so far not successful in doing so.

75 years ago – 1950

The first services were held at the new Axton Baptist Church. Rev. William T. Hall led an all-day program in celebration. Speakers at the afternoon service included Rev. J.R. Bryant, secretary of the Virginia State Baptist Board of Missions and Education; Dr. J.P. McCabe; Rev. Chevis Horne; Rev. J.R. Johnston; Rev. George E. Simmons; and Rev. W.G. Hughes.

50 years ago – 1975

A merged MHC-Patrick County library was closer to being reality when the Martinsville-Henry County Regional Library Board of Trustees voted to increase its membership from 9 to 11 people to allow for Patrick County representation. Martinsville City Council had given preliminary approval, and both they and the Henry County Board of Supervisors were to meet on May 27, when both were expected to approve the merger. Franklin County Board of Supervisors earlier had been studying the idea of joining in to this regional system as well, but on May 20 they decided against it. In April 1975 Franklin supervisors released Patrick County from its 21-year regional library agreement to allow Patrick to join MHC.

25 years ago - 2000

Crestar Bank merged into SunTrust. The Crestar/SunTrust building in uptown Martinsville now is the home of Harvest Foundation.

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