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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Feb. 25
1924: law enforcement officials given authority over traffic, also, sheep owner wins court case; 1949, Post Office hits $11,306 in sales; 1960, pollution and lack of city sewer service; 1974, vinyl comfort control sofa at Collinsville Furniture Mart; 1999, Tultex’s $36.5 million loss, and teachers learn about new SOLs.
Feb. 17 though the years
1924, property owners pay half the sidewalk; 1949, Mrs. Glenn Wood testifies in Martinsville Seven case; 1960, new pickup includes heater, turn signals and rear bumper; 1974, garbage service cut to save gas; 1999, everyone excited about the new CD-ROM.
Feb. 16 through the years
1924, Red Cross Nurse home visits; 1949, Build-A-Bank child winners; 1960, Betty Lee Mason crowned Queen; 1974, Irma Eastland wins a TV; 1999, new computer-designed bus routes. (Photo: Bassett Swinging Bridge)
Feb. 15 through the years
1924, Farmers’ Institute in Axton; 1949, parents fined for student truancy, and Gen. Joseph Martin Chapter Silver Anniversary; 1960, “Jack the Ripper” at the Rives; 1974, Herbert Boaz speaks on gas shortage; 1999, $2.50 Cleaners has $1.50 special.
Feb. 14
1924, free health movies in Axton; 1949, American Legion dance at Club Martinique; 1960, deepest snow in memory – 12,000 shares of American Furniture Co. – Children of American Revolution state conference; 1974, Linda Reynolds teaches “Meals to Fit the Budget”; 1999, True Love Waits rally at FUMC. (Photo: Bassett Furniture employees)
Feb. 13 through the years
1924, where the sawmills were working; 1949, $6 license tax; 1960, sewer bond; 1974, the News Den – Ohev Zion Sisterhood’s Outlet Store sale; 1999, car prices (Photo from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources: The Wedding Cake House and the house that used to be next to it)
Feb. 12 through the years
1924, Cold Storage Co. annual meeting; 1949, March of Dimes, and the start of PHES; 1960, Children of the Confederacy chapter and introducing closed circuit TV; 1974, Women’s Club scrap drive; 1999, Lowe’s is coming. (Photo is of The Hut restaurant in Collinsville, owned by Ted Balabanis)
Feb. 11 through time
Award for “Total Abstinence” essay; 1949, Navy man killed in plane crash; 1960, polio cases on the rise; 1974, truckers called back – fire in Bassett; 1999, efforts to get religious literature in schools – 550 get bone marrow tested for 9-year-old. (Photo is of the popular restaurant Rumley’s)
Feb. 10 through time
1924, Globman’s “Clean-Up Sale;” 1949, First Citizens award; 1960, missing 7-year-old and grandmother - Martinsville trucking company boycotted; 1974, Race Relations Sunday - Reynolds-Patrick Memorial Hospital Board; 1999, Vicki Helmstutler; 2024, “Masters of the Night” at VMNH.
Feb. 9 through time
1924, Home Improvement Committee; 1949, whiskey bust; 1960, lunch counter demonstrations in Charlotte; 1974, “Girls only want one thing” at Globman’s; 1999, V. Rod Berry, bone marrow tests for Kandis Joyce, United Way officers; 2024, Black History Month exhibits (Photo: Aurora, the Pink House in Patrick County)
Feb. 8 through the years
1924, Current Events Club and Virginia Gay Orchestra; 1949, preliminary hearing for the Martinsville Seven delayed; 1960, Bid ‘N’ Pass Club in Bassett; 1974, looking for land for BHS; 1999, Coretha Gravely, Anita Akers, Kevin Holt and Steven Johnston are Officers of the Year; 2024, city gets funding for old BB&T building.
Feb. 7 through time
(Photo: Pannill House, now the Parrish House, on Church Street) — 1924, Virginia Gay Orchestra of MHS; Current Events Club; 1949, 28 City building permits for $65,000 in construction in one month; 1960, the Stuart Kittens and the Critz Lassies; 1974, diamond heart ring for $40 at Royal Jewelers; 1999, Valentine’s Special at Martinsville Ford Body Shop.