July 11 through the years
100 Years ago – 1925
The Stuart-Hairston Camp of Confederate veterans met at 2 p.m. (a Saturday) at the Henry County Court House. All Confederate veterans were urged to attend.
75 years ago – 1950
The average hen laid 167 eggs; with such high production, Virginia Polytechic Institute Poultry Marketing Specialist D.U. Livermore warned, inefficient poultry producers would be pushed out of business. The average in 1925 was 114 eggs a year; in 1930, 122; in 1940, 136; and 1945, 152. [Now, a hen averages around 250 eggs a year for 2 or 3 years. Some breeds, such as Rhode Island Reds, can lay up to 300 a year.]
50 years ago – 1975
The Martinsville-Henry County Public Library’s name was changed to Blue Ridge Regional Library to reflect that the library had begun serving Patrick County as well. Betty Ragsdale was the library director.
25 years ago – 2000
Martinsville City Council approved a special use permit for a florist and gift shop to open at 301 Starling Ave. Connie and Elliot Stone owned the property and requested the permit to rent the building to a florist. Elliott Stone’s company, Business Development Resources, had kept its office in the building since 1995, but recently had moved the office into his house. The law firm of Giles and Lambert PC also used the building, but with a separate entrance. Lisa Hurrell planned to open Artistic Florist and Gifts Inc., offering 24-hour service, and also sell art on display there. Six women with professional florist experience planned to operate the business, which would open on July 24.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.