July 3 through the years

100 Years ago – 1925

Mr. J.H. Morrison’s new bus arrived. He and Russell Claybrook drove that bus from Detroit to Martinsville. It was built by the Graham Truck Company and would run the route between Bassett and Martinsville. The Henry Bulletin described it thus: “It has all the conveniences of the street car, push buttons to notify driver of the desire of the passenger to get off, a splendid lighting system, front and rear door entrance, and separate seats for colored passengers.” This bus would be named Number Two and would make four trips a day between Bassett and Martinsville, in connection with the Cadillac which had been operating for several weeks. Mr. Morrison moved to Martinsville to live on Brown Street.

 The Chatauqua multi-day program of entertainments continued with the farce-comedy-drama “Give and Take.” The Chatauqua was held in a tent on the school ground, and admission was 75 cents.

75 years ago – 1950

Turner’s Cameras and Photo Supplies on East Main Street sold films for 25 cents and developed and printed – 6 or 8 exposures – with popular size reprints at 3 cents each.

50 years ago – 1975

The Virginia Employment Commission received funding for about 60 summer jobs for students ages 14 to 21, from poor families. Fifteen public service agencies had applied for those students employees over the summer. The hourly pay would be the $2.10 per hour minimum wage.

25 years ago - 2000

Terrence Nowlin was a Patrick County High School graduate and a rising junior at James Madison University. He spent the summer as an intern at the Martinsville Bulletin.

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