1925, First Baptist Church’s Fiddlers Convention; 1950, Bondurant Furniture Corp. and Exchange Clubs; 1975, preliminary hearing for Shanghai Thomas; 2000, The Virginia Home. (PHOTO: Philpott Marina)

1925, Comfort Corset-Brassiere; 1950, attorney attempts to delay executions; 1975, Deputy W.H. Herman Ferguson killed in action; 2000, After Sunday with Joshua Shilling. (PHOTO: Craig and Bassett store and undertaking)

1925, auction of lots on Watt Street; 1950, Patrick County woman dies in Spray jail fire; 1975, City and County look at consolidating some services; 2000, Miss MHC Scholarship Pageant contestants.

1925, Chief Forest Warden George Gravely of Sandy River; 1950, Virginia Avenue gets its name; 1975, Jaycees sell apple butter; 2000, Kimberly Rowe, 7, saves family from fire. (PHOTO: Central Grammar School on Brown and Cleveland)

1925, two airplanes thrill the crowds; 1950, ABC agent;’s home blasted by dynamite; 1975, Bicentennial Commission; 2000, Mr. E (Paul Eisenheimer) celebrated at Sanville School (PHOTO: Walnut Street)

1925, Knights of Pythias talk about building a castle hall on Public Square; 1950, Al’s Music Center; 1975, truck escape ramp for Greasy Bend on U.S. 58 in Patrick County; 2000, 75 people put out Basstt brush fire. (PHOTO: Rough and Ready Mill at Reed Creek in Bassett Fork)

1925, Broad Street buildings nearly finished; 1950, Martinsville Seven in Virginia Supreme Court; construction starts on Philpott Dam; 1975, worker paralyzed after fall at Bassett Superior plant; 2000, BB&T offers to rent third floor to City. (PHOTO: 1930s Broad and Church)

1925, permit needed for hogs in city; 1950, Martinsville Library grows; 1975, scrap paper drive; 2000, Rajah Temple No. 195 officers. (PHOTO: Fuller Memorial Baptist Church)

1925, minstrel shows at Baldwin Theatre; 1950, possible Baptist seminary for Martinsville; 1975, burglar in Druid Hills; 2000, gas prices rise to a shocking $1.52. (PHOTO: Sours Mill at North Fork Leatherwood Creek. Gus Dyer is on the wheel.)

1925, Axton brothers fly to NC; 1950, illegal fishing; 1975, train derailed near Rives Road; 2000, unemployment benefits raise by $36. (PHOTO: Henry County school bus)

1925, a chopping and an enjoyable dance; 1950, wild day at Martinsville Speedway; 2000, EDQ officers investigaing. (PHOTO: Ridgeway station)

1925, first used car dealership; 1950, Central Grammar School turned into storage; 2000, Tultex assets sold. (PHOTO: Fieldale Train Station)

1925, “Nice things to eat”; 1950, Henry Co. tops Virginia for March of Dimes; 1975, new decals; 2000, Trade Show and Moss-Burton redevelopment area. (PHOTO: Hotel Hamilton where Jefferson Plaza is now)

1925, American Legion Minstrels; 1950, Gilberts run out of town for running disorderly house; 1975, food stamps for 2,200 families; 2000, Trade Act brings 220 more to PHCC. (PHOTO: Henry C. Lester home on Church Street)

1925, Mutual Building & Loan Ass’n; 1950, fire door saves First National Bank; 1975, FUMC hosts CROP; 2000, Aloha Wok. (PHOTO: Liberty Heights Pool where the shopping center is now)

1925, Methodist Church in Bassett grows; 1950, Harnsberger’s Market; 1975, polyester double knit on sale at Glo.bman’s; 2000, Family Life Services Medical Clinic. (PHOTO: 1962, Eagle’s Store in Collinsville)

1925, Mr. Koger’s store in Bassett; 1950, help with coal at Prison Farm; 1975, school lunches; 2000, lawsuit over Fieldcrest Lodge. (PHOTO: Martinsville Station)

1925, Jergens Lotion samples at Mountain Drug Co. in Bassett a big hit; 1950, disputed property on Fayette Street; 1975, students Tim Spivey, Dana Bennett and Patricia Moore top investors; 2000, Lynn Wolf, Fike Rogers, Jannie Koumparakis, Randolph Wade and Ira Trollinger read Dr. Seuss. (PHOTO: Church Street from Jefferson Plaza)

1925, Preston Home Demonstration Club; 1950, Bosses Night at Club Martinique; 1975, shot by 15-year-old wife; 2000, remote-control planes at BHS and new air field behind Henry County Administration Building. (PHOTO: Hotel Hamilton where Jefferson Plaza is now)

1925, 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. (PHOTO: Curing tobacco)