April 24
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
Early plans for a public park were in the works, following a donation by Judge J.R. Smith of 20 acres of his farm fronting the Smith River and adjoining on the east the Van Smith camp and clubhouse. The land included a well known mineral spring on land formerly belonging to Dr. H.M. Drewry.
75 years ago – 1949
Jewel Box at 34 Church St. offered this 110-piece 22 K. gold trim dinner ensemble for $16.95 (95 cents down, and pay $1 a week). It included six each of dinner plates, bread plates, saucers, cups and salad plates; 1 vegetable dish; 1 platter; utensils for six; six each of ice tea, water and juice glasses; six fruit dishes; six sherbert bowls; a dozen stirrers and 12, yes 12, ash trays!
Funeral services were held at McKee funeral home for Henry Clay Lester, 30, who had been killed on Sept. 7, 1944, in a traffic accident while serving with the U.S. Army in Belgium. Burial was in Roselawn Burial park with a military rites by the Pannill American Legion post. Before entering service, he worked with his father, Alva A. Lester, in the grocery and contracting business.
1960
A public hearing on rezoning land on the north side of Memorial Boulevard between West Fayette, Beaver and Smith Streets was held. The owners planned to establish a shopping center there if the property was rezoned allowing its full depth, rather than the then current 150 feet. Also heard was a report on actions by the Henry County Board of Supervisors relative to keeping City prisoners in the County jail. Current each jurisdiction paid the other $1.05 per day for housing of inmates.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce announced the list of directors who would operate the new Community Recreation Center being erected on Cleveland Avenue. It included R.M. Simmons, Jr., Dr. Marvin Midkiff, Robert S. Morse and Betsy Gravely. Ensuring full-time professional supervision of the center, securing all necessary operating funds, setting all policies and making all major decisions would be among their responsibilities. There was an ongoing effort to obtain funds with which to complete the structure.
50 years ago – 1974
The homes open for Historic Garden Week were: The Homestead, Grassdale Farm (in Spencer), home of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks R. Leavitt; Dr. and Mrs. Paul Toms at 920 Mulberry Road; Dr. E. Pierre Sprinkle at 702 Windsor Lane, Mr. and Mrs. Gorman T. White on Westover Lane, Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Bullington at 107 Courtney Terrace.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.