Sept. 11 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

Front-page article in the Henry Bulletin: “Colored Citizens respond. – Below we give a partial list of the colored citizens of Martinsville who are responding liberally to the fund to pave the Fayette Street road. Raymond Eggleton $25, Bettie Waller $20, John Belcher $5, Lucy B. Hairston $10, C.F. Hairston $15, John Hobson $10, John Johnson $20, Pheobe Kallam $20, Frank Clark $15, Norwood Claybon $25, Doc Carter $10, Jesse Prunty $10, High Street Baptist Church $40, W.H. Hairston $25, Millard Dillard $15, Geo. Mitchell $20, Sam D. Hairston $10, J.H. Gravely $10, Fayette Street Christian Church $50, W.R. Spencer $10, J.W. Jones $10, W.F. Carter $20, Nani Studivant $10, Stale Moss $15, Ales Hairston $25, H.M. Hairston $50, Richard Spencer $50, Joe Turner $20.

Obituary headline: “Death Summons Mrs. Hodges. – Wife of J.D. Hodges Expires Early Friday Morning.” She had lived on Starling Avenue and had been in poor health for 3 years.

75 years ago – 1950

Eighteen 1949 and 1950 graduates of Martinsville High school reported for service with the U.S. Air Force to fight in the Korean War, assigned to Lackland Air Base in Texas for training. They were Elmer Nelson Reed, president of the 1950 class, Leon V. Davidson, John W. Russell, Leslie C. Dickens, William M. Johnson, Curtis Stanley, Donald Martin, Clyde Stultz, Paul Steagall, Robert Canupp, Emmett Campbell, Edward Davis, William Mays, John Rucker Clift, James Steagall, James Wagoner, Alan Stadler and Lynwood Judkins. Most of them had been star athletes, and many of them had been on the student council. Also enrolled were James Fulcher of Ferrum and Thomas Dalton of Stuart.

The U.S. Bureau of Public roads announced that final approval had been given for the construction of a bypass street through Martinsville. A survey crew would come out later in the month to begin staking out the route. The road was expected to be finished by July 1, 1952.

50 years ago – 1975

Construction on the new First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Martinsville building on Church Street (next to the Municipal Building) was about 75% complete. Architect Conrad Knight designed the 15,000-square-foot building, which cost $890,000.

25 years ago - 2000

Henry County Public Schools students went through a character education program called Character Counts. Henry County Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor and Events Coordinator Susan Kanode and Lynn Berry, extension agent for 4-H youth development, were coordinators. After taking training from the state 4-H program, Kanode brought the program to Henry County. She trained the school guidance counselors.

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