June 23
100 Years ago – 1925
Crossword puzzles were new, and they’d go on to become a major national interest. On this date the Henry Bulletin had its first “Cross-Word Puzzle.” It was topped by instructions, “How to Solve a Cross-Word Puzzle.”
A few months before the local newspaper had its first crossword, this article appeared in the March 10, 1925, edition on Page 4: “Cross-Word Mania Breaks Up Hoes – Neglected Cleveland Wives Plan Divorces. – Homes in this city are now threatened by cross-word puzzles. The innocent little white and black squares have fascinated so many husbands that legal aid organizations are being swamped with requests to solve the enigma or start divorce proceedings.” One legal aid organization reported receiving an average of 10 letters a day “from wives who have to remain at home these evenings just because their husbands are suffering from ‘cross-word puzzleitis.’” One of the letters reads, “We were happy until recently. Then my husband became absorbed in cross-word puzzles. Since then he has had no time even to look at me or the children. Ho no more than gets his hat off than it is cross-word puzzles. … Morning, noon and night it is cross-word puzzles. It is breaking up our home, for I have no time for them. He will either have to give up cross-word puzzles and spend some time with his family or I will obtain a divorce.”
The Henry Bulletin ran its first cross-word puzzle on June 23, 1925. It prefaced it with: “CROSS WORD PUZZLE. Some millions of people in this country have been bit by the Cross Word Puzzle bug and they seem to have become thoroughly inoculated with the virus and to enjoy its effects. The Bulletin wants all its readers to have an opportunity to try this pastime and so with this issue it has inaugurated a regular Cross Word Puzzle service. The answer to the puzzle will follow in the next issue.”
The Axton Home Demonstration Club met with Mr. G.T. Winn. County Demonstration Agent Miss Bratten gave a demonstration on health and clothing. Also in Axton, Hood Brothers Quartet of Tennessee gave a concert in the high school auditorium, with part of the proceeds to benefit the school.
75 years ago – 1950
The Pannill Knitting Company entered a suit against Richmond trucking firm Associated Transport, claiming the company lost 12 boxes of yarn while carrying a consignment of goods from the local plant to one in Georgia. Pannill was suing for $957.93.
50 years ago – 1975
The parents of Cynthia Yvette Hairston, 7, filed a half-million dollar lawsuit against McBride Brothers Entertainment of Statesville, N.C. Cynthia was in serious medical condition after being thrown off a Tilt-A-Whirl ride operated by McBride Brothers at the Fireman’s Bazaar. The family was represented by attorney Jim Haskins.
K-Mart “bombshells” (sale prices) included pull-on shorts, $3; men’s pullovers, $2.88; jeans for men, $7; sheer panty hose, 59 cents; girls short sets, $2.17; 7 ¼-inch circular saw, $25; and 200 paper napkins, 53 cents.
25 years ago - 2000
The Southern Baptist Convention had just ruled that women could not serve as pastor. Dr. David Adkins, the pastor of Starling Avenue Baptist Church, called that decision the result of a “hostile takeover” in the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor Rodney Houston of Chatmoss Baptist Church said that it was a matter of divine fact and natural order of things.
Baseball season in Martinsville started with the first Martinsville Astros game of the year. The team won 1-0 over the Bluefield Orioles. The number of paid ticket-holders was 1,367.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.