Nov. 9 through the years
100 Years ago – 1925
A clinic was held at Bassett High School to give free chest examinations. Those clinics were held every three months by the local chapter of the Red Cross in cooperation with the State Board of Health and the Henry County Health Board. The announcement read, “You regularly overhaul your car. Are you less valuable?”
Advertisement for the film “Are You Fit To Marry” at the Hamiton Theater” Women only were admitted to the two daytime shows, which had “special scenes for women only,” and men only were admitted to the two nighttime shows, which had “special scenes for men only.” “A Daring Expose of Our Social Evil, Endorsed by Press, Clergy and Women’s Clubs - The Most Daring Presentation of ‘Truth’ Ever Offered. A Delicate Subject Handled in a Delicate Manner. Something Entirely New To the Screen. The Selfish Man and The Sacrificing Woman. An Actual Story Revealing Conditions of which we know so little. A Dynamic Portrayal of Real Facts. Starling – Amazing – Sensational. Life’s Darkest Secrets. NOTE: This film has been arranged in the most refined manner. There is nothing to offend the most exacting. Fathers and mothers are urged to attend and bring their sons and daughters. Positively no children admitted unless accompanied by parents.”
75 years ago – 1950
The Martinsville Retail Merchants Association voted to set up special shopping hours for the Christmas season. Stores in downtown Martinsville would be open late, until 9 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 8, 13 and 22, and also on Thursday, Dec. 21. The Christmas season would officially open during the first week of December, when Santa Claus would come in a parade.
A strike at the nationwide Bell Telephone System kept more than 300,000 telephone workers out of work. The strikers were members of the CIO Communications Workers of America. They put up picket lines around telephone exchanges and company warehouses. Thirty-three thousand telephone equipment workers in 44 states were called out in the contract disputes. This affected telephone service around the country.
50 years ago – 1975
Shoppers at King’s got 200 free S&H Green Stamps when they spent $10. They could buy Jewel Shortening (42 oz.) for 99 cents, White Cloud toilet tissue for 48 cents for four rolls, a pound of Luzianne Coffee for 88 cents, two cucumbers or peppers for 29 cents, 2 pounds of carrots for 39 cents, and eight 16-oz. bottles of Double Cola for 99 cents.
25 years ago - 2000
Circuit City sold the Nokia flip phone and a phone plan of 25 minutes per month, including unlimited weekends, for $34.95 per month.
Lester Home Center sold key copies for 2 for $1; 10-10-10 fertilizer for $4.95; smoke detectors for $4.99; a Poulan 16-inch chain saw for $144.49 and a Poulan electric leaf blower for $29.99.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.