Nov. 19 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago

100 Years ago – 1925

The new Commandery of Knights Templar held its first meeting in Martinsville. Out-of-town visitors attended to help the group get started. Officers elected were: J.B. Shumate; T.B. Huskey; Claude Turner; and C.W. Holt. There were 29 charter members.

75 years ago – 1950

The Christmas Cheer organization, which continues to this day providing meals, blankets, toys and other aid to need families during the Yule season, was formally established. More than 35 representatives from civic groups, women’s club and the City participated in the meeting in the Trial Justice courtroom. M. Lester Carper was named chairman. Other officers elected were Mrs. Ina McKee and Mrs. Sue Matthews; the board of trustees was selected as Claude E. Taylor Jr., Dan A. Green and Robert Haskell. The chairman would name a paid worker to compile a master list of families and individuals needing Christmas aid. That worker would work closely with the City and County welfare departments to identify recipients.

50 years ago – 1975

Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County had a new, $200,000 Angographic X-ray machine. It was three times as powerful as basic X-ray equipment and made dynamic (moving) examinations sometimes called “arteriograms.” The process sometimes used a computer system.

25 years ago - 2000

The Town and Country Garden Club of Bassett was in its 50th year. It began with 13 charter members. Members of 2000 were Marie Clay, Phyllis Shockley, Elsie Young, Leila Grogan, Lucy Hopkins, Pearl Martin, Hattie France, Naomi Manning, Edna Thornton, Ilene Craig, Violet Foley, Louise Stone, Heidi Travis, Katherine Craig, Sue Hodges, Audry Tatum, Mary Dalton and Virginia Arendall.

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