Nov. 28 through the century
100 Years ago – 1925
Though in later years the hospitals in Martinsville would be segregated, they appeared not to be in 1925, as indicated by an article in the Dec. 1, 1925, Henry Bulletin. It stated that “Joseph Motley, colored, fourteen years of age died at Lucy Lester Hopsita on Sunday morning at eight o’clock following an accident in Bassett when he was struck by an automobile.”
Classified ad: “WANTED – Middle Aged Man. Hustler can make $50 to $100 or more weekly in Henry County selling Whitmer’s guaranteed line of home necessities – toilet articles, soaps, apices, etc., to his neighbors. Team or car needed but goods are furnished on credit. Middleton of Virginia made $95 one week and Cherry of Alabama made $122.95 in five days. They had no experience when starting. We teach you salesmanship. Write for full particulars to-day.
75 years ago – 1950
The Korean War really heated up, with the United States charging “Communist China with outright and naked aggression in Korea. It called upon the United Nations Security Council to face the consequences squarely,” the Associated Press reported; “In one of the most critical meetings in the Council’s history, Chief U.S. Delegate Warren R. Austin spoke directly to a representative of Communist China, Wu Hsiu-Chuan, who arrived here Friday and sat in the Council for the first time yesterday.” Talks were contentious, with the Russian representative delaying the U.S. speech by more than an hour while a capacity crowd listened tensely. Locally, the Martinsville draft board summoned 10 men for induction into the Army, and Henry County 16, on Dec. 6. Three of the men were college students and would get exemptions if they asked for them: Robert Henry Draper Jr., Frank Irvin Richardson and Donald Taylor Staples.
50 years ago – 1975
The Christmas Parade was held, but amid worries and rumors that it would be Martinsville’s last. The number of floats was growing less and less through the years, and in 1975, it was 73 – a dramatic drop from the 100 floats of 1974’s parade. The parade was held during the day the Friday after Thanksgiving, attended by an estimated 20,000 to 27,000 people.
25 years ago - 2000
Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. announced that it would stop assembly and finishing operations at the J.D. Bassett Plant, laying off 280 people as it continued to consolidate operations. The rough-end fabricating and glue operations and powerhouse at J.D. Bassett would remain open and service other plants. Rob Spilman Jr. was the president and chief executive officer.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.