Feb. 28
100 Years ago – 1925
Farmers were awaiting the shipment of thousands of chicks coming from Bristol. Some regions of the U.S. required quarantines because of the European foul pest, but not the local area.
75 years ago – 1950
Henry County supervisors voted to buy Link two-way radios for the cars of all police officers and also for that of Game Warden Edgar Lemon. The cost for the radios and for a central station was $6,640. The department was made of Sheriff Morton Prillaman, four deputies, two special police officers at Fieldale and five officers at Bassett.
Martinsville City Council voted to set up a full-time Public Health department. It would be staffed by a trained doctor, registered and public health nurses, sanitation officers and essential clerks. The City would work with the County in operating the department – if the County still wanted to share the program. The County had appropriated funding for the idea 3 years back, and it was though
1961
George E. Oakes of Climax was the new foreman of the City Prison Farm, replacing Peter F. Bocock, who retired after 9 years in that role. Bocock and his family would live in the City-owned dwelling at the Municipal Airport for several months, and after they moved out, Oakes would move in.
50 years ago – 1975
The fund to aid James Aliff, whose wife and four children were murdered the day after Christmas at their home in Preston, had risen to $17,818.
Here is how Woody’s Market of Ridgeway announced that it was ending charge accounts: A sign posted was posted, reading “It Is With Deep Regret We Mourn the Passing of Old Man Credit, Feb. 28, 1975.”
Ten h1925, thousands of chicks; 1950, two-way radios and new Public Health department; 1975, fund for James Aliff, and mourning “The Passing of Old Man Credit” at Woody’s; 2000, Chuck and Doris Marshall safe amid political coup in Africa.ens and two roosters were killed at the home of Frank Walker of Patrick County. He called County Dog Warden Claude Helms, thinking it was a dog, but Helms said it was probably a weasel or fox. Mr. Walker set out a trap, which caught a 20-pound bobcat.
25 years ago – 2000
Martinsville doctor Chuck Marshall and his wife, Doris, reported that they were safe in West Africa, despite political instability and a coup there. They were doing medical and missionary work in Côte d'Ivoire and said they’d wait to see how things went before deciding to come home. They lived and worked in a hospital. The American Embassy in Abidijan had encouraged all Americans to leave their homes only when necessary and avoid large gatherings. Dr.Marshall was an obstetrician and gynecologist in Martinsville and practiced for 20 years. The couple also went on short mission trips to Asia and Central America before he retired in 1985. They had been in the Ivory Coast for 4 years.
At the Martinsville Speedway, buildings had been demolished above the first and second turns, replaced with 5,000 high-rise metal bleacher seats. New grandstands were built, with enclosed corporate suites and a press box behind them.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.