September 7 MHC

100 Years ago – 1925

 Painter and interior decorator John W. Bray died. He had worked on many of the finer homes in the area. His funeral was held at the Christian Church and burial in Oakwood Cemetery. He was born in 1879 in Mt. Airy, N.C., and married Bettie Quisenberry of Hillsville in 1900. The couple had six children.

75 years ago – 1950

Judge M. Ray Doubles heard arguments on petitions of writs of habeas corpus charging that the Martinsville Seven were being illegally held in the state penitentiary because they had been denied equal protection of the law under the 14th Amendment and that they had received unfair trials. Martin A. Martin was their attorney. The Martinsville Seven is a modern moniker for Joe Henry Hampton, Frank Hairston Jr., Booker T. Millner, Francis DeSales Grayson, John Clabon Taylor and Luther Hairston, all black. They were convicted in the assault and rape of a white woman on Jan. 8, 1948.

The Martinsville Milk Board held a public hearing to discuss an increase in the price of milk. It was held at 7:30 p.m. in the clerk’s office in the courthouse. Willard Smith was the public’s representative on the board. The initial price was 22 cents a quart for Grade A mil, 23 cents a quart for premium milk and 24 cents a quart for Golden Guernsey milk.

City Patrolman J. Otis Bolejack was called to report for active duty with the United States Marine corps. in the Korean War. He would have to get his physical exam Sept. 25 at the Norfolk Naval base. He had served 3 years with the  Marine corps during World War II.

50 years ago – 1975

Bathroom rugs were in style, and JCPenney had all the configurations in stock and on sale: oblong mat, $3.99; lid cover, $2.99; and 2-piece tank set $4.40.

25 years ago - 2000

Chip Joyce and Blake Thomas opened a Prudential Insurance office at 103 E. Main St. Margary H. Scales opened Scales Styling Salon at 64 Idlewild Drive, Fieldale.

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