March 23
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
A recent survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that county agriculture agents estimate there are about 40,000 radio sets in 700 counties, or an average of 57 sets for counties. Given that there are 2,850 agricultural counties, that would mean there are more than 145,000 radio sets in use. At the same time, there were about 600 licensed radio stations in the U.S.
75 years ago – 1949
The “Hormel Girls” were in town at local grocery stores from 10-11 a.m. These were female World War II veterans now working to promote Hormel ham products. In the weeks leading up to this promotion, shoppers were told to take a picture of “your Hormel girl” from a poster which was up at a supermarket – carry that picture in their purses – and on the day of the Hormel Girls’ visit, “If you find and identify the Hormel Girl whose picture you have, she will give you a certificate good for a valuable prize – redeemable at your own food store.”
The House Appropriations committee in Washington approved an appropriation of $2,800,000 for work on the Philpott Dam project, which was scheduled to begin July 1. That was the amount recommended by President Truman, but the Army Corps of Engineers had recommended $600,000 more.
1960
City Council determined the starting time for the new sewer construction would be July 1960, and the first phase would take approximately 18 months to complete; the second phase was slated for January 1962, with the third and final phase beginning in January 1963.
The Martinsville-Henry County Airport Development Corporation asked for a new ten-year lease agreement for facilities off Route 220 South., for $1,250 annually. The request came from R. P. Gravely, Jr., who spoke for the corporation. In consideration of the $30,000 already invested by the corporation in airport improvement, City would be responsible for fire and liability insurance for property and structures, as well as maintenance, repair and replacement of property and access roads; City would also be responsible for demolition of the current hangar, shop and waiting room. The city-owned area between the airport and the river and the N&W Railroad was seen as an area which could be the home to several million-dollar industries.
50 years ago – 1974
The Henry County Cooperative Extension Service set up a garden information center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Patrick Henry Mall to give information on home gardening and answer questions. Harry Little was the Henry County extension agent.
The Samuel Hairston Elementary School’s PTA held its Spring Bazaar, with auction sale, talent show, jewelry, old book sale and hot dogs.
25 years ago – 1999
Some Martinsville City Council members were considering imposing a city-wide curfew. Mark Crabtree was the mayor then.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting mobile homes made before 1976 from being moved into the county.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.