August 7 through time
100 Years ago – 1925
The national joint board on interstate highways selected 50,000 miles of roads across the United States and Canada as “United States Highways,” to be designated with uniform good markers. A sub-committee was given the responsibility of recommending which roads for approval, but they would include one going through Martinsville.
Advertisement: “Money to Lend. We represent clients who have unlimited funds to lend on improved real estate, both business and residence property in Martinsville, and farm lands in Henry County. Long term loans. Rates reasonable. WHITTLE & WHITTLE ATTORNEYS-AT-Law, Rooms 1, 3 and 3, Burch Building, Martinsville.”
On Page 6: “It really is amazing what the right sort of hat can do toward encouraging a timidly retiring chin, or towards putting a too aggressive one in its proper place.
75 years ago – 1950
Charity League operated the Bargain Box, a second-hand store which raised money for program to help children and teenagers. Bargain Box was at 66 West Main Street (now an empty lot next to attorney Perry Harold’s office). Bargain Box opened in November 1948 and originally was called the Thrift Shop and was operated in the basement of the Shackelford Building, with its entrance between the Shackleford Building and Montgomery Ward. In early 1949, it moved to 18 Bridge St. and changed its name to Bargain Box, and closed in January 1970. Charity League started Bargain Fair, a one-day sale held each October, in 1969.
50 years ago – 1975
The Henry County School Board voted to raise the rental fees of textbooks for all school levels except kindergarten. The new rates were $12 for high school students, $10 for grades 4-7 and $9 for grades 1-3, a $1 increase.
25 years ago - 2000
Patrick Henry Community College offered a class “Build Your Own Web Page” for children in grades 3-6.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.