April 10-19
APRIL 10 100 Years ago – 1926
The Campaign Committee leaders of the Old Belt Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association for the following districts were: Leatherwood, C.W. Turner; Irisburg, R.W. Jones; Ridgeway, George A. Pace; Reed Creek, S.J. Wingfield; Horsepasture, G.L. Ashworth; and at large, Race Hodge.
75 years ago – 1951
Cpl. Walter C. Smith of Martinsville had a dramatic rescue from the Korean War. He last had written his wife, Mrs. Mae Burkhalter Smith of 22 Townes St., Martinsville, on Dec. 29, 1950. He was captured on New Year’s Eve, and his wife received word on Jan. 22, 1951, that he was missing in action. During that time, he was forced to walk everywhere his captors went. He had a wounded shoulder and frozen feet. Then he was interned in a South Korean village. On Feb. 7, the captors released most prisoners, but not him because of his condition. He slipped a letter to his wife through a friend who was being released. That friend mailed the letter as soon as he arrived back in U.N. territory. After that letter, her next word from him was on March 29, when he wired her that he was in the Osaka Army Hospital in Japan. He expected to be home in April and requested to be a patient at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. He would need two or three operations on his feet and was being treated for malnutrition.
50 years ago – 1976
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performed in Martinsville, brought to town by Charity League. Mrs. Betsy Smith was the president of Charity League.
25 years ago - 2001
Cynthia “Netta” Hairston opened Netta’s Style by Design at 38 Franklin St., Martinsville.
APRIL 11 100 Years ago – 1926
The biggest fish of the season caught in the Smith River was a Red Horse which was 29 inches long and 17 inches around and weighed 8.5 pounds. J.B. Heffinger caught it with a medium sized hook.
75 years ago – 1951
Bargain Box was a used clothing store operated by Charity League. Bargain Box originally was operated by the Red Cross under the name Thrift Shop, and located on the basement floor of the Shackelford Building. In 1951 it was on Bridge Street and called Bargain Boxes. Its three purposes were to make good clothing available at low prices, provide a place for people to dispose of unneeded clothing and to use proceeds for a worthy purpose. It was open every afternoon and all day on Saturdays, and closed on Mondays to receive clothes for sale. The person for whom the League sold clothes got 60% of the sales price and the League got 40%. All work done was volunteer work by League members. Most of the proceeds went to the Children’s Clinic conducted by D. Samuel Newman of Danville. The clinic work had increased significantly since the health department opened. After a child was examined in the clinic, Charity League provided the medicine, further medical attention, surgery, transportation and other matters needed. Mrs. J. Shelton Scales was the chairman of Bargain Box. Another source of income for Charity League was the annual Dance Revue of the Ann Boyer School of Dancing.
50 years ago – 1976
Callie M. Martin, 58, of Bassett, was going for her driver’s license for the first time. Unfortunately, she wrecked the car she was driving during her test, with the license examiner from the Department of Motor Vehicles in the passenger seat. The car she was driving hit a car which was parked in the Henry County Public Service Authority parking lot, causing a chain reaction which resulted in more than $2,800 to Mrs. Martin’s car and three other parked vehicles.
25 years ago - 2001
Bassett High School students Jamie Fulcher and Stephanie Reynolds won gold medals and first in class in the 2001 Virginia FCCLA (Family Careers Community Leaders of America) leadership conference in Virginia Beach. BHS student Tony Gilbert and Shannon Lester won gold medals for their cake decorating.
APRIL 12 100 Years ago – 1926
Roy Prillaman’s meat market on Franklin Street was damaged by fire discovered at 4:30 a.m. and thought to have been burning for some time. The whole back part of the building, two rooms with valuable machinery, was destroyed. The intense heat broke out the plate glass windows at the front of the building. Mr. Prillaman had been in Roanoke bringing a friend to the hospital so didn’t learn of his misfortune until the day after.
75 years ago – 1951
The state allowed St. Mary’s Hospital on Fayette Street to remain open as long as construction on the new hospital for black patients resumed by May 10. Conditions by which St. Mary’s would be allowed to continue operating included that every precaution must be taken to prevent cross-infection and the fire precautions, including no smoking allowed, must be followed.
The trial of Darling Carroll Woodall, 31, accused of killing his father on Jan. 26, began. The father and son had lived in Southside Martinsville and operated the Southside Cab Stand. Police Sgt. T.G. Finney told the court that he found the elder Woodall lying near the cab stand and the son was standing above him, trying to talk to him. He asked the son what had happened and, he said, the son replied, “‘I shot him. Take me to jail. Take me away from here.’” When the officer asked why, the son replied, “‘I had no reason to do it. It was the damndest uncalled-for thing that ever happened,’” adding that the son appeared to be drunk. The trial would continue to the next day, when he would be sentenced to 10 years in the state penitentiary.
50 years ago – 1976
At Akers Supermarket, bananas cost 18 cents a pound; Coronet bathroom tissue, 4 rolls for 69 cents; Doles pineapple juice, 46-oz. jug for 69 cents; 3 18-oz. loaves of Sunbeam bread, 89 cents; regular drinks, 3 cartons for $2.49 plus deposit; and 9 oz. Cool Whip, 55 cents.
25 years ago - 2001
Showing at Rives Cinema were “Pokeman 3: The Movie” and “Kingdom Come.” MovieTown showed “Enemy at the Gates,” “Josie & The Pussycats,” “Along Came a Spider,” “The Brothers,” and “Spy Kids.” Admission was $5 matinee, $6 at night and $4.50 for children. Hollywood Cinema showed “Exit Wounds,” “Joe Dirt,” “O Brother, Where Are Thou?,” “Someone Like You” and “Heartbreakers.”
APRIL 13 100 Years ago – 1926
The special flavors this week at Piedmont Creamery Co. of Martinsville were pineapple sherbert and banana ice cream.
75 years ago – 1951
In the Classified Ads of the Martinsville Bulletin, for heating: BLOCKS – Dry poplar, oak and pine. Stove and fireplace length. Immediate delivery. Curtis Eanes, Dial 20095. / COAL – Red Ash, Pocahontas, Briquets and Charcoal, Stoker, stove, lump and nut. Martinsville Coal. Co. Dial 2128. / DRY SLABS and round wood for range and heater, $5 load immediate delivery. Dial 3144, Crawford Hairston. / Plus three other ads selling flooring blocks for stoves, by Rucker Wells, S.A. Belcher and James Cochran.
50 years ago – 1976
A grounds improvement project outside the Henry County Courthouse was nearing completion in time for the nation’s bicentennial. The cannons were moved to the center of the yard to guard flagpoles; they were placed on brick pedestals. Brick sidewalks were installed, which created a square lawn/garden area in front of the courthouse. In this lawn/garden area were planted tulips in patriotic colors.
25 years ago - 2001
Henry County Parks and Recreation and the Collinsville Jaycees co-hosted a free Easter egg hunt at Jack Dalton Park. Two thousand five-hundred Easter eggs were hidden around the park, and six full Easter baskets were given away in special drawings.
The Fieldale Fire Department held a dance with music by the Friday Night Band.
APRIL 14 100 Years ago – 1926
G.&C. Merriam Co. of Sprinfield, Mass., advertised its new edition of the Webster’s International Dictionary in the Henry Bulletin. People could write for a sample page. New words in the 1926 dictionary included hot pursuit, soviet, typer, Sippio, Red Star, paravano, megabar, aerial cascade, camp-fire girl, rotogravure, mystery ship, Flag Day, Esthonia, Blue Cross, irredenta and overhead.
75 years ago – 1951
Community Theatre’s spring performance was “Goodbye, My Fancy.” The cast was Harry Gravely, Adelaide Waller, Martha Anthony, R.R. “Jim” Young Jr., Pat Hartford, Charlotte Weservelt, Mary Walker Robbins, Doug Caney, Dan Greene, Connie Bowles, Forrest Thompson, C.J. Short Jr., Ann Burchill, Dell Lacy, Mary Lou Lacy, Margaret Irby, Hal Scheffler, Seymour Potolsky, Lib Deitz, Iva Claire Hones and Tommy Miles.
50 years ago – 1976
A forest fire on Bull Mountain destroyed 300 to 400 acres in its first day burning. The fire was brought under control but still had 100 volunteer firemen stationed there to keep it from spreading. Volunteer firefighters came from Bassett, Fieldale, Henry County, Meadows of Dan, Woolwine, Stuart, Carroll County and Franklin County.
25 years ago – 2001
Former Martinsville Mayor William D. Hobson, 93, died. He was the first black City Council member, serving from 1968 to 1980. He was also the first black mayor of Martinsville, serving in that role from 1976 until his retirement in 1980. Another former mayor, Barry Greene, who had served on Council with Hobson, told the Martinsville Bulletin that Hobson had support from across the community, black and white. Retired city manager Thomas B. Noland told the Bulletin that Hobson was “cosmopolitan, polite and gentlemanly. He was fair-minded and a pleasure to be around.” Hobson and Dr. Dana Baldwin were among the local leaders who were instrumental in persuading S.M. Schriebfeder of Maryland to open the Jobbers Pant Company just off Fayette Street. Opened in the early 1940s, the plant had 1,000 employees, 75% of them women. During World War II Hobson served in the Army Air Force in the Pacific as a sergeant. After the war, he opened an Esso station and a laundromat on Fayette Street. He became active in community affairs, including with the Roundtable Club. He operated a store on Fayette Street which was a popular lunch place among the young set. He first ran for City Council in 1950. As a councilman, Hobson had said that a main goal was to make sure that the West End of Martinsville got its fair share of service, such as street paving, curbs and gutters, sidewalks and water and sewer lines. During his years on Council he was instrumental in Martinsville’s winning of the All-American City Award in 1970. He and his wife, Virgia Hobson, were married for more than 60 years and they lived on Fayette Street.
Bassett Ruritan Club held a pancake breakfast with sausage gravy, biscuits, eggs, apples and coffee, all for $4. Dyer’s Store Volunteer Fire Department also held a country breakfast for $4, and apple pies and sweet potato pies also were for sale there.
An Easter dance and country music show was held at the Rangeley Ruritan Building on Dillons Fork Road. The Lucky City Bluegrass Boys, featuring Pat Smith on fiddle, performed music.
APRIL 15 100 Years ago – 1926
Mr. C.D. Weaver was awarded $3,000 (value $54,566 today) damages against N&W Railroad. Several weeks before, while he was driving a Chevrolet Coupe (with Mr. T.H. Self as passenger) across the tracks at the local station, the car was hit by a switch engine. The collision severely injured the men and destroyed the car.
75 years ago – 1951
An explosion occurred at the distribution plant of the Southwestern Virginia Gas Co. The explosion critically injured service manager Maxwell Mathena, 34. He died four days later. He suffered third degree burns on his legs, arms, hands and face and was in Martinsville General Hospital on the critical list. Robert Snyder, who lived hear Mathena on Pine Street, was at the scene and burned slightly on his face. The two men had gone to the plant on Lester Street Extension to make an adjustment to the richness of the gas flow. Mathena told the plant manager, Warren J. Watrous, that he had noticed the gas flow into his own home was too rich and had gone to the heating room at the plant to cut off some instruments there. Then he went into a heat exchangers room where liquid gas was mixed. The explosion happened as he was leaving. Apparently he had not turned off a pilot light, and there appeared to be a gas leak in the room. The explosion also left about 1,000 houses without gas service.
The Martinsville High School Band, under the direction of Ralph E. Shank, presented its fourth annual spring concert. The band started in 1948 with only 40 musicians but by 1951 was up to 65. Four senior members for whom the spring concert was their last with the band were Janet Craigue, flute; Wray Deal, clarinet; Forrest Thompson, percussion; and Philip Ingram, president of the band and baritone saxophone player.
50 years ago – 1976
The $2 bill, bearing Thomas Jefferson’s picture, arrived in local banks. The U.S. Treasury Department had printed and distributed 225 million $20 bills in time for the nation’s bicentennial, and in expectation that the use of $2 bills would reduce the need for $1 bills. The use of the $2 bill was expected to save the Federal Reserve System nearly $27 million over the next 5 years plus an estimated $8 million in savings to the Treasury Department. The $2 bill was first issued in the U.S. in 1862.
25 years ago - 2001
About 650 people attended the Grand School Reunion for graduates of Piedmont Christian Institute, Henry County Training School and George Washington Carver High School, all former schools for black students in the area. The reunion banquet was held in the former Globman’s store building.
APRIL 16 100 Years ago – 1926
The Graded and High School of Martinsville held their First Annual School Exhibits, in which on that Friday and Saturday school work was on display in each classroom, from morning until 9:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, for the general public to visit and see.
75 years ago – 1951
Harry L. Lacy of 12 Gravely St. had been running a worm farm behind his house for 2 years. He started it to provide his own bait for fishing, but the operation had grown enough that he was selling worms locally. He had several million English Red Wigglers which he fed peat moss, leaves and cottonseed meal. They lived in 11 beds. He had started with Georgia Wigglers and Night Crawlers, but ended up preferring the Red Wigglers because the fish notice them better. Two or three local stores sold his worms, which were stored in ice cream containers with 60 worms each. Mr. Lacy also was a Ham radio operator. His station was licensed by the government as W4MNI. He often received messages for Martinsville residents from distant places and delivered them.
Safecrackers broke into Bibee’s Super Market on Main and Church streets and blew open a 600-pound safe and stole $500 in cash and checks (worth $6,200 today). They got in by climbing to the roof from an adjoining building. Once they were on the roof, the opened a ventilator and pushed down several sections of ceiling to get to the floor.
50 years ago – 1976
Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. announced that it would sell 24 of its company-owned houses to employees. Owen Reavis of Town and Country Realty of Collinsville was the real estate agent. The company had sold off its houses here and there, but never so many at once. It still owned 150 houses in Bassett, where it had furniture plants. The houses had been built in the 1930s. They were served by both individual septic tanks and a company sewer line that emptied into the Smith River. Water was provided by two wells. Public Service Authority eventually would take over the water and sewer services for the houses. The sales prices would be around $10,000 each ($56,572 in today’s dollars).
25 years ago - 2001
The Sportsman’s Club’s annual Easter egg hunt and cookout was held from 1-5 p.m. at Baldwin Park. The club treated about 1,000 attendees to free food and prizes.
APRIL 17 100 Years ago – 1926
The Ramsey Furniture Company Inc. of Bassett was organized with a minimum capital of $250,000 and a maximum authorized capital of $1 million. The amount agreed upon for the operation of this plant was $450,000 ($8,184,992 in today’s dollars), and that amount of stock was fully subscribed. Officers elected were E.T. Ramsey, N.N. Ramsey, J.W. Ramsey and George E. Joyce. The board of directors consisted of those men plus C.C. Bassett, B.C. Philpott, J.D. Bassett, R.L. Stone, T.G. Burch, N.T. Shumate and D.P. Helms. Construction on the plant would begin May 1.
75 years ago – 1951
April 15-22 was Weekday Religious Education Week in Martinsville, as proclaimed by Mayor J. Robert Walker. He called upon city residents to pay special emphasis to the religious education classes taught in the Martinsville schools. Religious education was offered in Martinsville to students in grades 3 through 7. It was not a mandatory class; 97% of students were enrolled.
Leon Globman was elected president of the state association of B’nai B’rith during the three-day state convention held in Martinsville at Club Martinique.
50 years ago – 1976
Gravely Furniture Co. of Martinsville elected two new vice presidents: Richard Pierce, a native of Saranac, N.Y., director of sales and marketing; and Clay Gravely III, the company’s data processing manager. Re-elected as officers were Harry C. Gravely, Michael O. Galiger, David H. Gleasman and Ralph W. Pyles. Board members re-elected were William R. Broaddus Jr., Frank T. Gravely, Richard P. Gravely Jr., Harry G. Lee, Henry C. Reed and the officers.
25 years ago - 2001
When Vicki Helmstutler ran for Henry County Circuit Court Clerk in 1999, one of her campaign promises was to provide internet access to court records and calendars. In 2001, that promise was becoming a reality: As part of a pilot program, Henry County records were online with the state system in March 2001. Martinsville, under Circuit Court Clerk Ashby Pritchett, was added to the system in April 2001. The internet access was made by mirroring records sent to the Supreme Court of Virginia into the pilot program; the website was www.courts.state.va.us/pilot.
Two workers at CPFilms Inc. were injured in a flash fire at the company’s plant in Fieldale. Johnny Yellock, 45, was airlifted from Memorial Hospital to Baptist Hospital in serious condition with second- and third-degree burns to the front of his body. Garry Clark, 40, was transported to the UNC Burn Center in stable condition. They were burned in a flash fire on a chemical-coating work line. They were working with a machine that coats film with silicone when some of the film became wrapped around rollers that carried the film through the coating process. The men had stopped the line and begun to unwrap the film from the rollers when the chemicals flashed into a fire.
APRIL 18 100 Years ago – 1926
Warren Motor Co., Inc., was organized in Martinsville with capital stock of $10,000 (181,889 in today’s dollars). The company would sell the Star Car. Warren Motors, the Star Agency, was in the Houchins Building on Main Street, opposite the Municipal Building, to sell Fours and Sixes.
75 years ago – 1951
O.D. Ford, chairman of the board of directors of American Furniture Co., gave the Martinsville Fire Company a check to be auctioned off at the Fireman’s Bazaar. The amount of the check was not disclosed and would not be revealed until after the bidding was closed. Also, a firetruck was driving through neighborhoods, occasionally tooting its horn, for people to bring out items to donate for the fundraising sale. The check was auctioned off on April 28 for $100, bought by local gas distributor B. Eddie Watts – and it was for that amount that the check was written.
50 years ago – 1976
Dr. Jimmie L. Mask Sr. opened a chiropractic office in the Druid Hills Shopping Center. He and his wife, Connie, were natives of Orlando, Florida. Their two sons were Jimmie Jr. and John.
Cedrics Fish & Chips opened on U.S. 220 North. Martin L. Godrey was the owner, and Roy Jamison was the manager.
25 years ago - 2001
Six parents in Patrick County were charged with failing to send children to school. Their children’s absences ranged from 60 to 70 days absent out of 141 days of school.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.