Looking Back …
A look at the people and happenings of the area over the past 100 years
If you have information, pictures, artifacts, old company or church newsletters, family letters or anything else that sheds light on life in MHC-Patrick through time, please consider sharing them with the museum - either lending or gifting us the originals, or copies.
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Oct. 6 through the years
1925, Martinsville PTA has goal of lunch counter; 1950, Crusade for Freedom anti-communist drive starts; 1975, Martin Processing forms Temple Machinery; 2000, blood drive for Coach Change. PHOTO: Crowd in front of Setback Building. Hamilton Hotel is at left
Oct. 5 through the years
1925, decorator Harvey L. Harvey; 1950, Estron snowsuits for children; 1975, increased bus service to Bargain Fair; 2000, Nation of Islam speaker calls Lisa Thomas’s death a hate crime. PHOTO: Bus schedule, 1924
Oct. 4 through the years
1925, Union suits for sale; 1950, $6,000 house on Scuffle Hill; 1975, Minnie Bell makes 32 gallons of apple butter; 2000, MMS students starting to do their research on six websites. PHOTO: Henry County Training School, Courtesy of Fisk University.
Oct. 3 through the years
1925, new coat styles; 1950, gas-powered refrigerators; 1975, hiring a woman deputy; 2000, Arrington Manufacturing’s new plant. PHOTO: Dry Bridge School on Church Street Extension (Highway 48)
Oct. 2 through the years
1925, tremendous growth in New Bassett; 1950, farmers bring tobacco to town'; 1975, renovation of courthouse grounds; 2000, Chamber head recommends joining regional tourism efforts. PHOTO: Bottles from Martinsville dairies (Clover, Boaz, Fralin-Nunn)
October 1 through time
1925, highest MHS enrollment ever at 125; 1950, “Employment of the Physically Handicapped Week”; 1975, the Clarks of Critz after the owner of destructive goat; 2000, Dr. Berry moves office. (PHOTO: the old Ellsworth Street Baptist Church. On Oct. 1, 1950, the congregation left that building - shown in 1950 and again now - to form Central Baptist Church on Church Street, where Soul Winners Ministry is now.)
September 30 through time
1925, school bus requested for Irisburg; 1950, 250,000 pounds of tobacco sold; 1975, Fitchue Hopper’s tall sunflower; 2000, Speed Fest. PHOTO: 1905 view of courthouse from Bridge and Church streets.
Sept. 29 through the years
1925, more than a ton of chestnuts shipped each day out of Patrick Co.; 1950, United Nations flag arrives; 1975, house for $20 down and $60 monthly or trailer for $972 down and $99 monthly; 2000, “Dinosaurs!” exhibit at VMNH. PHOTO: 1926 at front of Henry Courthouse
September 28 through the years
1925, Poultry Culling Campaign; 1950, naming of Memorial Boulevard; 1975, solar panel for Greyson Street house; 2000, Health Connections on PBS. PHOTO: 1898 Choral Club gives Old Folks Concert.
Sept. 27 through the years
1925, Controllable Beam on the Better Buick makes night driving safe; 1950, State Milk Commission rules on Martinsville prices; 1975, early computers at JCPenney, Southwestern Gas, Centel and Virginia Nat’l Bank; 2000, 50 jobs cut at Bassett. PHOTO: 1951 burning of Banner Warehouse, in area where Black Box Theatre is now. You can see the former county administration building, where museum annex now is.
Sept. 26 through the years
1925, “The Magic of Electricity!”; 1950, one-way streets funded; 1975, Solid Waste Committee; 2000, Lisa Thomas shot to death in DeMarco’s Clothing. PHOTO: Pythian Building in early 1940s, with Williams Store.
Sept. 25 through the years
1925, Dr. G.B. Dudley in the Burch Building; 1950, Bronze Star Medal for PFC Leo Dooley; 1975, candidate says using work mail for campaign was perk of the job; 2000, Kim Powell and Phillip Taylor win sonic competitions.
PHOTO: Two women in front of Hotel Stevens
Sept. 24 through the years
1925, Bibles for sale; 1950, bank deposits insured; 1975, Martinsville Cablevision; 2000, Tupperware honors Colene Fackler and Avis Turner. PHOTO: First Presbyterian adds steeple in 1959.
September 23 through the years
1925, Room for rent on Cleveland Avenue; 1950, Axton Community Fair; 1975, 7-day work weeks at Fieldcrest Mills; 2000, 6 teenagers pass EMT course. PHOTO: Hotel Henry, home to many a traveling salesman.
September 22 through the years MHC
1925, Ladies Auxiliary Street Ball on Walnut Street; 1950, 15 men report to draft offices; 1975, 15 orchards offer you-pick apples; 2000, new logo for City police cars.
PHOTO: 1920s Roxy Theatre on Church Street)
Sept. 21 through time MHC
1925, Llewellin Setters; 1950, adult education classes at MHS; 1975, Martinsville drummer Johnny Bryant tours with Ray Charles; 2000, 7 MHS students suspended.
Sept. 20 through the years
1925, first City Directory; 1950, bids for new school in Collinsville; 1975, teenager John Wheeler shot; 2000, Mignon Grant’s salon opens. PHOTO: 1938, Chief Tassel Building and Gulf Service Station on Church Street.
Sept. 19 through the years
1925, school supplies advertised included rulers, compasses, fountain pens and drinking cups;1950, men leave for army training; 1975, Beverly Lester’s dog wins; 2000, Rev. Susanne Schulz Martin. PHOTO: Unknown man in downtown Martinsville.
Sept. 18 through the years
1925, orthopedic clinic for indigent crippled children; 1950, new financing rules; 1975, Crystal Gravely goes to work for the hospital; 2000, Habitat’s 16th house. PHOTO: Crews arriving to work on Fairy Stone State Park.