Nov. 14 through time
100 Years ago – 1925
The Tobacco Growers co-operative Association held a meeting at the Henry County Courthouse, for farmers to vote on a tobacco contract. Three delegates were elected by the Growers of Henry County to attend the Nov. 28 meeting in Danville.
The Federal Department of Agriculture and U.S. Census released statistics showing that Virginia was the nation’s top producer in spinach and early potatoes; second in peanuts and strawberries; and third in tobacco, commercial apples and green peas, and fourth in cabbage.
While rabbit hunting in Patrick County, Abraham Lewis accidentally shot and killed his brother, William G. Lewis. Abraham shouted for help, and Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Cunningham, who lived nearby, heard him and came to aid. They picked up William and put him in their car and drove him toward Stuart for medical treatment, but he died on the way there. The Lewis family had moved to the area from Pennsylvania 2 years before, and the body was sent back to Chester, Pa.
75 years ago – 1950
The city purchased new screens for its operations at the city rock quarry off Mount Olivet Road and going forward would be able to supply fine stone for street patch work. Up until then, it had to buy the fine stone. Trustees from the Prison Farm worked at the city quarry.
25 years ago - 2000
Residents of Fieldale and employees of Fieldale’s Fieldcrest plant were worried about future stability. The plant’s owner, Pillowtex Corp. had just announced that it was about $650 in default it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The Martinsville Rotary Club held its annual Lobsterfest at National Guard Armory. The event featured dancing music. Jim Bennett was the club president, and Howard Grodensky was the project chairman.
Five area organizations which served the area’s out-of-work residents each received donations of $40,000 from the Martinsville Bulletin and the Public Welfare Foundation. Those organizations were: Family Life Services’ Medical Clinic on East Church Street, with Dr. Keith Nichols; For the Children, a pregnancy prevention agency; Citizens Against Family Violence, with assistant director Robin McCoy; The Family YMCA, with director Dave DePriest and assistant director Jo Ellen Hylton; Patrick Henry Community College Foundation, where Max Wingett was president of the college. Larry Kressley was executive director of the Public Welfare Foundation; Antoinette Haskell was board chairman of the Martinsville Bulletin, and her son, Robert Haskell, was the publisher.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.