Oct. 28 through time
100 Years ago – 1925
Robert’s Drug Store on the corner of Walnut and Church streets advertised for sale “Hollingsworth’s Unusual Candies – Memories of the Old South – Tender memories of the courtly south are recalled in this sublime compliment of candy. In Metal Box, Two Dollars the Pound. Virgil Hollingsworth, Augusta, Ga.” (That’s $37 in today’s money for 2 lbs. of candy.)
75 years ago – 1950
The federal government issued a booklet telling people how to survive an atomic bomb. It gave “six survival secrets”: 1, Try to get shielded, such as in a basement, subway or ditch; 2, Drop flat on the floor or ground; 3, Bury your face in your arms; 4, Don’t rush outside right afterward; 5, Eat only canned food and drinks; 6, Don’t start rumors.
50 years ago – 1975
Mayor Harry Boaz had declared National Business Woman’s Week in Martinsville. Martinsville had two Business and Professional Women chapters: Commonwealth Business and Professional Women and Martinsville Business and Professional Women. In a recent meeting of the Commonwealth BTW, Mrs. Virginia Hall of 1609 Sam Lions Trail was honored by her club for her “contributions toward elevating the standards of womanhood in the Martinsville and Henry County area.” Mrs. Ann Jordan, co-owner of Jordan Office Supply, of the Martinsville BPW was named Woman of the Year by her club.
25 years ago - 2000
The State Corporation Commission proposed cutting Virginia’s area code of 540 into three sections. Southwest Virginia, including Martinsville and the Roanoke Valley, would get a new area code. It was expected that the 540 area code would run out of phone numbers by October 2002.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.