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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May 23 through time
1925, L.L. Carter’s carburetor invention; 1950, 16,032 population but counting wasn’t finished yet; 1975, Globman’s Basement Store deals; 2000, Patriot Centre Fire and Emergency Medical Facility. (PHOTO: 1934 local ads)
May 22 through the years
1925: “Prohibition Officer Kills Another Man”; 1950, 60-day execution reprieve for Martinsville Seven; 1975, deputy convicted of larceny of whisky; 2000, “Mr. Mac” retires. (PHOTO: local ads from 1934)
May 21 through the years
1925, City restrictions on use of water in summer; 1950, Axton Baptist Church’s first service; 1975, Patrick Co. close to merging with MHC library; 2000, Crestar merges into SunTrust. (PHOTO: Fuller Church Parsonage 1940s)
May 20 through the years
1925, Lucy Lester doctor opens office in Brown Building; 1950, Virginia Travel Ass’n members stop in; 1975, Collinsville woman plants Iceland peas; 2000, Susan Preston and Alice Elmore.
(PHOTO: First National Bank of Martinsville)
May 19 through the years
1925, City merchants’ campaign prize is trip for two women to California; 1950, metal porch gliders; 2000, Henry County Administrator Sid Clowder recommends reversion. (PHOTO: G.W. Lester tobacco factory near Dyer’s Store)
May 18 across the century
1925, spring drive for fall fair begins; 1950, Ridgeway Sportsmen form to construct lake west of Ridgeway; 1975, Cascade man thrown through window of Waffle House in Collinsville; 2000, traffic light for Mulberry/Spruce/Jefferson. (PHOTO: Downtown Martinsville)
May 17 across the century
1925, silks and laces for commencement dresses; 1950, Philpott residents told to leave by July 15; 1975, Gov. Mills Godwin Jr. addresses MHC Chamber; 2000, PSA told it had to fix Sanville Utilities’ problems. (PHOTO: Ayers Sandwich Shop)
May 16 through the years
1925, “Whis-key unlocks the doors that lead to the poorhouse, penitentiary, and the grave”; 1950, Rotary Club sponsors Virginia Orchestra; 1975, Gayle Adkins Compton is Mother of the Year; 2000, Mark Tosh supplies Olympics with metal detectors. (PHOTO: Collinsville Shopping Center)
May 15 through the years
1925: Martinsville Literary Club’s comedy of three generations - Hoop Skirts, Bustles and Flappers; 1950, mail delivery cut back to just once a day; 1975, Carver Parkway changed to dead-end road; 2000, Rumley’s building torn down. (PHOTO: Fontaine School, 1960s)
May 14 through time
1925, Patrick Springs Hotel sold at auction; 1950, Mitchell Tractor Co. on Lester Street; 1975, high technology for Henry County law enforcement; 2000, Diana Echols’ foster children and her own children. (PHOTO: Fields and Legget)
May 13 through the years
1925, C.W. Holt predicts “a Summer of Gay Colors”; 1950, weiner roast for Brownie Troop 16; 1975, improvements for county’s dog pound; 2000, Lowe’s opens on Commonwealth. (PHOTO: 1906, E.L. Wiliamson’s covered coal tipple on southeastern corner of Broad Street)
May 12 through time
1925, bad car wrecks happened on Sundays'; 1950, Company B growing; 1975, West Martinsville Jaycees was the fifth Jaycees in the area; 2000, Ted Woody, Lacy Compton and Mary Ruth Brandt step in for Steve Harris. (PHOTO: Fayette Street Parking Lot)
May 11 through time
1925, lodge near Roundabout Club for Dokies; 1950, open house for Globman’s new store; 1975, cable TV system in Martinsville; 2000, Tobacco Commission money for PHCC. (PHOTO: 1959, First Presbyterian adds steeple)
May 10 through the years
1925, Better Homes Week; 1950, job openings; 2000, shooting by uncle leaves girl blind; and hundreds attend 13-year-old’s funeral. (PHOTOS: Villa Heights 1960s)
May 9 through the years
1925, demonstration on cooking with wheat for high school’ 1950, raccoons; 1975, Canine Committee; 2000, Ronnie Harris dies of burns from grease-pit fire. (PHOTO: 1898, Choral Club gives Old Folks Concert)
May 8 through time
1925, Martinsville’s contribution to the Stone Mountain [Confederate] memorial in Georgia; 1950, Bassett contractor M.F. Mason builds Bassett-Walker Knitting Co. addition; 1975, Greasy Bend in Patrick County; 2000, children’s books by Pat Walker and Brenda Strickland. (PHOTO: Billy Roger “Cowboy” Penn riding his horse around Bassett)
May 7 through the years
1925, members of the Patrick-Henry Medical Society indulge in smoke-fest during meeting; 1950, quarantine on dogs during rabies scare; 1975, the Sprinkles with the Rockefellers; 2000, John Dowdy’s American College of Martial Arts. (PHOTO: Broad Street Baptist Church)
May 6 through the years
1925, closing exercises of Colored Grade School; 1950, Clean-Up, Paint-Up and Fix-Up Week; 1975, principal charged in paddling student; 2000, 13-year-old died while playing with revolver. (PHOTO: Public Square)
May 5 through time
1925, Citizens Military Training Camp; 1950, Revs. Hezekiah Morris and Chevis Horne work together for integration; 1975, first computerized tickets for City utility bills; 2000, Albert Harris students in bus wreck on way back from field trip.
(PHOTO: Foundry on Bridge Street)
May 4 through the years
1925, Max Berlin store to move into old First National Bank building; 1950, union voted down at Fielcrest Towel Mill; 1975, SCC tells Apco to tighten its belt; 2000, Stanley Furniture Co. struck by ILOVEYOU computer virus.
(PHOTO: Esso station where Dollar General is now)