First week of December, 1925-2000
DECEMBER 1 100 Years ago – 1925
A “shrewd thief” attempted to enter the store of A.W, Arnold Jeweler on Walnut Street by cutting a hole through the window, but did not succeed. An attempt was made to cut an oblong hole in a large plate glass window using a glass cutter, but the attempt was abandoned.
Advertisement: “Madam Hager Palmist. Tells the past, present and future. Tells business affairs, love affairs and in fact, everything pertaining to your welfare. Have you ever come to a point where everything you undertook turned out wrong? The ones you loved and trusted proved faithless. Consult Madame Hager about any of these matters. Readings for white and colored. Office hours 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. Upstairs over H&H Grocery Store, Fayette Street.”
75 years ago – 1950
An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people joined the Christmas festivities downtown, and the Fayette street parking lot was jam-packed with children seeing Santa Claus. Santa had flown to town as he made stops across the nation. He was picked up in Martinsville by a city fire truck which took him to the waiting crowds. He was lifted 30 feet into the air to wave at the children, and several children were able to hoisted above the truck to speak with him. Mayor J. Robert Walker welcomed Santa to the city. The Martinsville High School band played, and Paul Zimmerman and his orchestra also performed. All Christmas lights downtown were turned on at 6 p.m. Johnny Shultz was the master of ceremonies. The event was sponsored by the Retail Merchants Association, and Leon Globman was the coordinator.
50 years ago – 1975
The cannons in front of the courthouse were still in their original location, paired together on the corner of the courthouse front grounds at Franklin and Main streets. A courthouse beautification committee working on improvements to the property called for the cannons to be separated and moved back into the center of the courthouse lawn. Each cannon would guard a monument and flagpole on either side of the lawn. The committee themselves didn’t come up with the idea, but rather, a landscape design firm from Richmond, which the committee had hired. Meanwhile, brick sidewalks were being installed in the courtyard, and permanent pedestals had been built for the two cannons. The 45-year-old magnolia tree which had been planted by Thomas C. Matthews was cut down because new concrete and sidewalks from 2 months before had damaged its roots. The committee had been formed 5 years prior with the intention of getting the courthouse property in ship-shape for the nation’s bicentennial. The final flourish of the plan would be to plant thousands of bulbs of flowering plants which would have blooms in red, white and blue.
Eighteen men were arrested in a raid on a gambling house in Rich Acres. At least another 15 men were yet to be arrested, following the investigation which had been going on for 2 months. They included: an insurance agent, an investigator for a state agency; the owner of a service station in Bassett; an assistant car lot manager; a restaurant supervisor; construction workers; a service station attendant; a factory worker; and one whose job was listed as gambler. They were caught playing Texas Pete. The gambling house was located off Virginia 685. It was a regular house set up like a club, with a lounge and kitchen appliances. Players played with chips supplied by the house rather than with cash. Twenty state troopers and five other officials conducted the raid. A German Shepherd police dog guarded the door to make sure no one left, but no one tried to.
25 years ago - 2000
A routine inspection found “turbidity” in water in Martinsville and much of Henry County, so the Virginia Department of Health told residents to boil it before drinking it. The City gave away 4,000 16-ounce bottles of water at the National Guard Armory. That water had been trucked in from Danville.
DECEMBER 2 100 Years ago – 1925
May of the students of Henry Graded School, in Franklin County, were from Henry County. Miss Katherine Good of Henry was the principal, and Miss Ethel Hickman of Ferrum was the assistant principal. A box supper was held at the school building to raise money to buy school supplies and to supplement the amount given by the school board for painting and repairing the building. The supper raised $150 ($2,756 in today’s money).
The first local death from rabies was reported: Estelle Claybrook, 7, of near Spray (present Eden, N.C.), died at Shackelford Hospital following a bite from a rabid dog. It happened while she was walking home from school, a distance of more than a mile. She walked much of the way with schoolmates but was alone, about a half a mile from home, when the dog attacked her and bit her in several places. She was immediately given the anti-toxin and it was thought, until just 2 days before she died, that she would survive it.
75 years ago – 1950
Ad for Globman’s nightgowns: “Femininity Is a Gift. Little girls may be made of sugar and spice, but as soon as the reach the siren stage, they’re sure to add silks and satins and ribbons to that show. What sure way to light the stars in her eyes than these confections of moonbeams and cloud stuff – as feminine as her lovely self:
50 years ago – 1975
Many more students than usual were getting scabies. A number of elementary school students locally would get scabies each year, but at this time it was an unusually high amount in Martinsville. It was on a slight decline after peaking in Henry and Patrick counties. Scabies is caused by tiny mites which burrow under the skin, causing a rash and severe itching.
25 years ago - 2000
The Martinsville Industrial Development Authority received $250,000 from the Virginia Small Business Incubator Program to assist with the start-up of new businesses.
The cause of Martinsville’s water problem – high turbidity (particles), which had the Virginia Department of Health advising residents to boil water – was found to likely be a clogged strainer in a pump. The pump was at the Martinsville Water Purification Plant on Jones Creek.
DECEMBER 3 100 Years ago – 1925
An article in the Dec. 1, 1925, Henry Bulletin indicated that at least one local hospital was not segregated at that time. It said that “Joseph Motley, colored, fourteen years of age” was taken to Lucy Lester Hospital, which was on Broad Street (and was staffed by white people and treated white patients). While he was riding a bike in Bassett, he was run down by a car. He did not survive his injuries. Later in December, two black men from Bassett, J.P. Hairston and Thomas Parker, were treated for gunshot wounds there. The shootings had taken place at the home of Berk Hairston. Parker died.
75 years ago – 1950
Strong winds and heavy rains damaged many of the Christmas decorations that had been put up throughout the downtown area just five days before. Several centerpieces, some wiring and some of the tinsel had blown to the ground.
50 years ago – 1975
Three Christmas trees were set up at Virginia National Bank in conjunction with Piedmont Arts Chapter. One was decorated by local students with ornaments of scrap and recycled materials. Another was decorated with Crismons lent by area churches. The third was decorated with ornaments loaned by friends and members of the chapter.
25 years ago - 2000
Piedmont Arts opened a satellite gallery in the atrium at the entrance to Memorial Hospital. The first exhibit was Children’s Bible Art from Moscow.
DECEMBER 4 100 Years ago – 1925
The oldest grocery company in Martinsville was the Martinsville Grocery Company, organized around 1895 and operated by J.W. Jones and I. Groves Sr. It was purchased by the S.R. Pannill and Company. Only its stock was purchased, and its building would be used for about 3 months for a stock room. The new, combined enterprise was named S.R. Pannill and Company.
75 years ago – 1950
Four patrol mothers assumed their duties today, relieving regular city policemen of the necessity of handling school traffic. They were: Hazel F. Rist, Patrick Henry school; Victoria Kalbaugh on Jefferson, Spruce and Mulberry streets; Mary Sasseen on Oakdale and Church streets; and Elizbeth Trott, at West Church and West Fayette streets.
50 years ago – 1975
The U.S. General Services Administration was thinking about selling the post office building on the corner of Church and Bridge streets. The post office only used a third of the space in the building, and there weren’t enough other federal agencies around to make use of the building. The Postal Service was advertising for a new location for the post office. As we know now, the Postal Service eventually ended up with a main post office on Spruce and Brookdale streets and it still uses the Church Street building as well.
25 years ago - 2000
Gianna Elizabeth Witasick, 1, was the reigning Teeny Miss Virginia and the Cover Miss title-holder. She also won Best Gown, Most Photogenic and Best Questionnaire.
Stone & Co., operated by Bob Stone, opened on Commonwealth Boulevard next to Circuit City. The store sold jeans, golf shirts and fleecewear such as sweatshirts and T-shirts.
DECEMBER 5 100 Years ago – 1925
A meeting held at the Henry Hotel to consider the matter whether or not Martinsville should have a Community Christmas Tree was not well attended. The tree would have been sponsored by various fraternal organizations and civic clubs. Those who did attend voted to create a community Chest, with the money to be used for the tree and to send baskets and gifts of coal and firewood to homes in need. Miss Fleeta Woodson was compiling a list of potential recipients of holiday aid.
Auto Laundry on West Main Street (Phone 479) announced new prices for washing cars: open Fords, $1.50; all other open cars, $1.75; two- and three-passenger coupes, $2; four- and five-passenger coaches and sedans, $2.25; and seven-passenger sedans, $2.50. The ad includes: “Remember: We clean the interior of every car washed with our high-powered vacuum cleaner. It takes the dirt away.”
75 years ago – 1950
A new case of infantile paralysis (polio) was reported: that of Mrs. Sylvia Gilley, 22, of RFD 3, Martinsville. Her case was considered mild, and she remained in the hospital in Martinsville for treatment, rather than be sent to Roanoke or Richmond. Three other cases reported during the year were still under treatment in hospitals but in generally good condition: Jessee Leon Carter, 14, of near Preston, and Mary Grant, 3, of Axton, both in a Richmond hospital; and Jimmy Beckner, 4, of Martinsville, in a Greensboro polio center.
50 years ago – 1975
Piedmont Trust Bank of Martinsville offered Direct Deposit for Social Security checks. With that service, the federal government would mail a person’s check directly to the bank for deposit into a specified account. Direct Deposit was available also for Supplemental Social Security, Disability Insurance and Black Lung Payments. The advertisement showed a side-view and front-on picture of a clean-cut and pleasant looking young man with the text “This man picked up $3,248 last week in Social Security checks,” warning that yours could be next.
Long’s Studio was at Sureway Food Fair (two locations: East Church Street in Martinsville and 220 North in Collinsville taking portraits which would be developed “last chance before Christmas.” The color portrait package had two 8x10’s, two 5x7’s and 10 billfolds for $8.95 ($53.60 in today’s dollars). It listed the regular price as $19.95.
25 years ago - 2000
The Bassett Garden Club gave a $1,000 donation to the Bassett Historical Center. The Bassett Garden Club had been instrumental in organizing the Bassett Library, where the Bassett Historical Center got its start. Garden Club members Mary Elizabeth Bassett Morten, Galilee Smith Clark and Aileen Bolt Dalton presented the check to Pat Ross, the Center’s supervisor.
DECEMBER 6 .
100 Years ago – 1925
This Sunday, Dec. 6, 1925, was proclaimed to be Golden Rule Sunday, sponsored by the Near East Relief and endorsed by President Coolidge. People were encouraged to put their attention on the needs of destitute children in the Near East. A child could be supported for an entire year on $60 ($1,102 in today’s money), the Near East Relief organization stated, and Martinsville residents were encouraged to go in together to support.
75 years ago – 1950
It was the deadline for entries in the contest to come up with a slogan for Christmas Cheer, which was in its first year. Entries were to be mailed to Christmas Cheer at City Hall. Globman’s Department Store was putting up the $15 prize ($201 today). Meanwhile, clubs and organizations were urged to mail back their responses to a survey asking what they would provide in terms of food, clothing or cash for distribution to needy families.
Twenty-three men in the City and County reported for induction in the US Army in Roanoke. They had been summoned to fill the December draft calls.
The Women’s Home Demonstration Club presented a minstrel show at the Snow Creek School, with proceeds to fund the club’s community work.
A burglar broke into Croom’s Cleaners in Collinsville. A passerby saw him and told J.M. Whitlow, the manager of Collinsville Service Center. Wielding a broom as his weapon, Whitlow chased the thief down U.S. 220 then down a side road toward the Morris saw mill. He would have caught him had not a car been driven in his path.
25 years ago - 2000
Bonnie Greenwalt was the local Chamber of Commerce’s first director of tourism.
El Imperial Mexican Restaurant opened at 2628 Virginia Ave., Collinsville. It was owned by Albert P. Rico and Gerardo G. Rico and managed by Fernando Vazquez.
DECEMBER 7 .
100 Years ago – 1925
The MacDonald Scotch Highlanders band performed at the Graded School auditorium in two shows. The band had 20 musicians and six soloists. Tickets cost 25 cents and 50 cents for the matinee and 75 cents and $1 for the night show.
75 years ago – 1950
The local State Employment Service office reported that it had 150 job openings for women in textile industrial plants. Only women between the ages of 18 and 35 would be considered. The office also had a number of openings for highly qualified secretaries, insurance salesmen and store clerks. For men, the Service reported openings for sheet metal workers, molders and iron and brass casters.
It was Christmas Cheer’s first year in operation. As of Dec. 7, 1950, it had reached a total of $103 in donations and had a list of 163 families in need of holiday assistance. Christmas Cheer organizers had sent surveys to local clubs and organizations asking how each group would participate; only 43 clubs had responded, and 185 had not replied.
50 years ago – 1975
A family living class was being taught at Martinsville High School, on request of students. Topics included: options after graduation (military, college, job); getting an apartment (with a field trip to three apartment complexes and studying lease terms); how to cook following recipes; menus for a day; marriage and family relations (speakers included ministers, divorced couples and marriage counselors); parenthood, family finances, family crises (including a visit to a funeral home and how to arrange a funeral); how to deal with the loss of the family breadwinner’s job; and how to deal with a mother-in-law moving in.
25 years ago - 2000
The Uptown Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at 5:30 p.m. at the old Henry County courthouse lawn. The First United Methodist Church handbell choir, Wings of Faith and the Open Arms Choir chimers performed. Santa Claus visited. Vice Mayor Gene Teague and George Lyle, a past president of Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association, turned on the tree’s lights. Afterward at the Farmers Market, Carlisle Middle School’s choir and Teresa’s School of Baton & Dance dancers performed, and the Blue Ridge Regional Library gave a storytime.
At a school board meeting, it was announced that Henry County would consolidate its four high schools into two. Bassett and Magna Vista high schools would remain high schools, with about a dozen new classrooms to accommodate 1,200 more students. Fieldale-Collinsville and Laural Park high schools would become middle schools by the 2003-2004 school year. Bassett and Drewy Mason middle schools would be renovated by 2005, Axton Middle School would be turned into an elementary school, and there were no plans made yet for Carver Middle School.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.