Sept. 17 over the century
100 Years ago – 1925
The real estate holdings of six separate Patrick County orchards, totaling about 80,000 apple trees, went up for auction. They were the holdings of the Patrick Orchard Company, all close to the Danville and Western Railway and close to cold storage. H.A. Ford & Company of Martinsville were the selling agents. Terms were 10% cash, 23 1/3% on Nov. 15, 1925, and balance in equal installments 1 and 2 years from Nov. 15, 1925, at 6% interest. The sale brought in $132,750: 927 acres, 32,000 trees, by E.J. Davis of Martinsville for $58,000; 401 acres, 10,000 trees, E.J. Davis for $18,000; 586 acres, 22,000 trees, by C.R. Davenport of Richmond for $25,750; 502 acres, C.R. Davenport, $23,500; 486 acres, 4,000 trees, W.L. Welborned of Roanoke, $5,500; and 3,000 acres, Patrick Land & Insurance Co., $2,000.
75 years ago – 1950
Twenty-year-old housewife and mother Eloise Foddrell was shot in the face by a shotgun held by her husband when he was taking it outside to shoot an owl that had been bothering the couple for some time with its noises. Mrs. Foddrell and her baby had been sitting on a bed near the door when the gun went off. Mr. Foddrell brought her to the Stuart Hospital, where Dr. W.C. Akers treated her. The doctor summoned an ambulance from Mays Funeral Home, driven by Ed Maness, to the Martin Memorial Hospital in Mt. Airy, N.C.
Housewives could buy Flako Pie Crust Mix, Flako Corn Muffin Mix to make pancakes, waffles or corn muffins; or Cuplets Cup Cake Mix (by the Flako Products Corporation) to make a single layer cake, an upside-down cake or 12 to 18 cup cakes. For the pie crust, they just added water; for the other two products, they added milk and an egg.
50 years ago – 1975
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles chose as location for a new building a vacant lot between Broad and Maple streets. The building would be 2,670 and in contemporary design. It would house the driver’s licensing operation that was being done near Schilbe’s, and it would be one of 25 DMV’s in the state with new computer terminals. The computers could issue driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations and titles in minutes, which until then took a month for processing in the Richmond office.
25 years ago - 2000
Trivette Studios was at Starling Pharmacy for 2 days to take photographs of children and families. A color package of three 8x10’s, three 5x7’s and 15 billfold photos cost $13.95, with a $3 deposit upon sitting for the photos.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.