August 10 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

Stanley Furniture Factory worker C.M. Kelley was severely cut by a groove saw on his hand, requiring the removal of several fingers. He was treated at one of the Martinsville hospitals.

Mr. J.P. Bell, 82, of Axton died. He was a member of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, where he was considered one of the most useful members. “He perhaps is unique in during his entire life-time never having uttered an oath, chewed or smoke tobacco, or touched liquor in any form,” his obituary, printed on Aug. 14, stated.

75 years ago – 1950

Summer was the season polio struck, and by Aug. 10 the fourth polio case was reported: Anita Eanes, 11, of Bassett. She had been affected in the throat and back, but paralysis had not set in; she was being treated at a hospital in Roanoke. Meanwhile, Jimmy Beckner, 4, was in the polio center in Greensboro, N.C., responding to treatment; and Roy Mitchell, 5, of Oakdale Street and Marie Flood, 21, of Irisburg had returned to their homes.

The pilot of a tobacco-spraying plane died when the plane crashed near Madison, N.C. The pilot, William Light, was a native of Kansas and flew plans for the Danville Flying Service.

50 years ago – 1975

Robert E. “Buddy” Phillips was Martinsville’s new postmaster. The post office had 64 employees and processed more than 80,000 pieces of mail each day.

25 years ago - 2000

Pulaski Furniture announced that it would close its plant in Martinsville, which ad 284 employees. It would consolidate its production of curio cabinets and grandfather clocks in Pulaski and Ridgeway. John Wampler was the Pulaski president.

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