August 27 through the years
100 Years ago – 1925
The Kiwanis Club held an open-air meeting under the trees in the courtyard. Astor café proprietor George Crystall served the picnic of four kinds of sandwiches – ham, tongue, chicken salad and tomato – iced tea and watermelon. Harvey Price, Milton Andes and Sam Kolodny were in charge of the program.
75 years ago – 1950
Classified ads: WHITE or Colored middle aged woman to care for 2 children and keep house. Dial Bassett 5451 after 4 p.m. / WHITE OR COLORED WOMAN to care for child one year old. Live in private home. Dial 20463. / WHITE MAN to work in animal hospital on Roanoke Road. Call Dr. Dictor, 3736. / GOLD SEAL Linoleum rugs 9 X 12. $9.95. Bargains in used furniture. Martinsville Furn. Co. River Hill, Henry Martin Sr., Dial 4341. / BANISH BLUE MONDAYS for the wife with a new Universal washer. Easy terms. J.D. Bryant & Co., 243 Broad St. Dial 3437. / BRANSCOM HATCHERY – Pullorum clean chicks, eggs and fryers. 721 Stultz Road. Dial 4628.
50 years ago – 1975
A hailstorm severely damaged tobacco crops along a mile-wide strip covering Henry and Pittsylvania counties. It was the second hailstorm in three days to wreak havoc in Axton. Ernest Roach reported that hail destroyed 80% to 90% of the tobacco on 3.2 of his 16 acres planted, and Henry Inman reported a total loss of his 3 acres of crop.
A power failure at DuPont damaged machinery, causing an extensive loss of production over much of the plant. Some polymerization and spinning machinery had to be sent off for cleaning and reworking.
25 years ago – 2000
The Industrial Development Association received $700,000 to buy the former Tultex building on Church Street to turn it into a business incubator. Sen. Chuck Robb presented the check of federal grant money, saying that the idea came from Bulletin Editor Ginny Wray. In January, Wray had written a letter to Robb, President Bill Clinton and others suggesting that Martinsville be used as an example for other areas affected by the new economy.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.