What happened on Oct. 15 in 1925, 1950, 1975 and 2000
100 Years ago – 1925
Rings had been ordered for the junior and senior classes of Martinsville high school. They were standardized, and each had the emblem of a bee. A bee also would be the design on all rings, stationary and high school literature. The adoption of a standardized ring saved the senior and junior classes $150. Hennebry and Sons of Roanoke were the lowest bidders on the standardized rings, so they got the order.
The Dossie Hoyle Beauty Parlor was in the Piedmont Creamery Building opposite to Post Office in Martinsville.
75 years ago – 1950
City Manager Kent Matthewson chose four Martinsville women to serve as patrol mothers in congested school areas: Hazel F. Rist, 609 Watt St.; Victoria L. Kalbaugh, 305 Jefferson St.; Mary H. Sasseem, 804 Hundley St.; and Elizabeth Trott, 18 High St. Mrs. Rist was in charge and would make assignments. Their patrol areas would be: at Patrick Henry Elementary School; at Oakdale and Church streets; at Mulberry, Jefferson and Spruce streets; and at Church and Fayette streets. The intersection of Fayette and Church had a new manual stop light which the patrol mother would use to turn all the lights red at the same time to allow children to cross. The women took a 2-day training course in Lynchburg and then an 18-hour first aid course in Martinsville. Their uniforms were a grey garbadine skirt, a blue garbadine blouse trimmed in grey, white gloves, a white belt and a grey overseas-type cap. The patrol mothers replaced policemen who were doing the job.
50 years ago – 1975
The Eagles store at the corner of Main and Bridge streets was told by the city that it would have to move; City Council had voted to use that area as a temporary parking lot (which we’re still using today, half a century later). Eagles decided to move to the old Globman property on Church Street where Woolworth was at the time. The city had purchased an option with the property owner, George C. Salmons, for $27,887 through 1977.
25 years ago - 2000
Elegant Design & Consulting Ltd., owned by Jerry and Jennie Blankenship, planned weddings and parties and sold gift items and home accessories at327 E Church St. They offered free gift-wrap and delivery.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.