Nov. 8 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

 For sale at Jackson-Medwin store across from Public Square: aluminum ware for 69 cents each, including tea kettle, convex kettles, rice boiler, paneled convex sauce pan, paneled pitcher, double roaster, lip sauce pan set, handled dish pan, water pail and perculators. A 6-pound electric iron guaranteed for 1 year was on sale for $1, and the cord for it cost 98 cents. Gray enamelware cost 49 cents each and included a 12-quart Combinette, handled dish pans, coffee pots, convex kettles and covers and a water pail. Japanese and galvanized ware cost $1 per piece and included white enameled pantry pails, 2-shelves round enameled cake closet, 35-pound flour canaster, roll-top enameled bread box, a 6-quart galvanized garbage can and a large wash boiler.

75 years ago – 1950

More than 500 people attended a rally to launch the observance of American Education Week in Martinsville. It was held at the Patrick Henry Elementary School. W.R Broaddus, Martinsville and Henry County delegate to the General Assembly, called for increased funding for schools. Then came a quiz contest between a team of faculty – John Richmond, Ralph Shank, Mrs. Sue Davis and Miss Lucy Lockhart – competed against a team of Martinsville High School students – Janet Craigue, Pat Stump, Billy Love and Ralph Rhodes. The faculty won prizes that had been donated by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Martinsville High School band, directed by Ralph Shank, performed, and the Patrick Henry Glee Club, directed by Miss Sue McDermott, sang two songs.

50 years ago – 1975

The members of New Light Holiness Church in Bassett honored their pastor, Mrs. Rachel Waller, for 26 years in pastoral services. Mother Anna Helms, the State Mother of Virginia, led the morning service. Evangelist Iris Hairston of St. Hope Temple in Martinsville led the 7:30 p.m. service.

25 years ago - 2000

Some local furniture store must have been going out of business around this time, because a few days before Jesse & Shumate’s ad touched on the theme, and now Collinsville Furniture Mart’s ad did: “Shop – Then Compare! Compare our prices with a going out of business sale. Them – Delivery – No; Us – Deliver – Yes; Them – Help Load – No; Us – Help Load – Yes” etc.

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