April 9
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
Patrick Henry Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met with Mrs. R.B. Semple. It was an exciting meeting, as a telegraph from Washington had just been received, announcing the approval of the portrait of Patrick Henry for the Memorial Continental Hall by the D.A.R. art committee. Arrangements also were made to beautify the grounds in Carlisle where stands the Patrick Henry monument.
75 years ago – 1949
The board of trustees of the Martinsville Memorial Library association met to discuss two options on properties offered as sites for a public library. Mrs. Bertha Bowles Shackleford offered her former homeplace at 238 Church Street for $25,000, and Mrs. Margaret Spencer Shackleford offered her home at 132 Church Street for $50. The board already owned the Andes property but was considering selling it to buy both other properties. [The present Martinsville branch is at 310 E. Church St.]
State Police chased two gunmen who held up Norton’s Café as far a s Danville, but then lost. They were driving a 1946 Chrysler sedan that they had stolen from Irvin Tuggle, who had left it parked on Ellsworth Street. They apparently had hot-wired it.
1960
The right of a wife to restrain her estranged husband’s girlfriend from trespass upon property owned by the wife was upheld by the Henry County Circuit Court.
The modified car race at the Martinsville Speedway drew the biggest Saturday afternoon crowd that ever turned out at the Martinsville track. It was followed the next day by the Virginia 500, with beautiful weather, albeit a bit chilly.
50 years ago – 1974
Help Wanted Ads in the Martinsville Bulletin: FEMALE PIANO PLAYER, must be able to sing and play all types of music. … LADY NEEDED immediately for direct selling of Sarah Coventry Supplies … MALE HELP WANTED- full or part time. Apply Hardee’s, Collinsville … WOMEN TO wrap meat. Penn Haven Meats. … YOUNG LADY for waitress. Evening Shift, The Hut Restaurant … SHOPMAN for door and window assembly -Call and ask for Mr. Landreth … $6.000 HOUR possible part time. Show sample, take orders for engraved metal social security cards. Send name, social security number for free sample details. Lifetime Products, Box 10208, Richmond, Va.
25 years ago - 1999
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the new Martinsville Big Kmart. Participating were Big K Manager Mary French, regional director Jim Watkins, team manager Preston E. Hill, managers Judy Graham and Carolyn Basham, and state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.