September 12 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

Mrs. Sallie C. Booker, the wife of Jesse W. Booker Sr. of Martinsville, was elected unanimously as the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates. At that point there were no women in the House of Delegates. In her acceptance speech, she said that one of Virginia’s greatest needs was advertising to the world her immense and varied resources and her wonderful attractions and opportunities to the homeseeker and investor.

Co-op community meetings were held over the week in Clanto, Dyers Store, Morrill Hill, Mt. Pleasant, Sandy River, Broswell and Figsboro.

75 years ago – 1950

Many of the stores in Martinsville closed (a Tuesday) for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Daily services were held at the Ohev Zion synagogue. At 7:30 p.m. Monday Rabbi H.S. Goodkowitz gave a seron on “The Eternal Question.” Services began at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and the topic of his sermon was “Hark! The Shofar.”

50 years ago – 1975

Offerings at the Family YMCA on Cleveland Avenue included synchronized swimming, water lifesaving techniques, competitive swimming teams, weightlifting, beginners’ bridge, tumbling, trampoline and exercise for women.

25 years ago - 2000

Vicky Purdy of Bassett hosted a 17-year-old Brazilian girl as an exchange student. In 2013, she was found dead inside her vehicle on Philpott Road in Franklin County near the Henry County line. Her death was ruled a homicide. She was 53.

Three thousand dollars were raised at a fundraiser at the Dutch Inn for Henry County Democratic Congressional candidate John Boyd, 33. Just before the fundraiser, he was in Washington D.C. testifying before the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee about what he viewed as needed reforms in the Department of Agriculture.

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