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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March 24
1924, 3-year reprieve for Hungarian partridges and ring-neck pheasants in Henry County; 1949, 3,000 feet of lumber washed in flood; 1960, Martinsville Hospital Auxiliary scholarships for girls; 1974, ultra-exclusive development planned; 1999, Lynn Ward’s recipe. (PHOTO: 1930s east on Church Street from Bridge Street)
March 21 through time
1924, Junior Rifle Corps in Bassett; 1949, lawsuit; 1960, snow postpones Jaycees’ Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up Week; 1974, proposed subdivision ordinance protested; 1999, Pluma to be restructured.
March 20
1924, Business and Professional Women’s Club; 1949, the beginning of the end of the Dick & Willie; 1960, expansion of Forest Park CC; 1974, Herbert Boaz, Jesse Kendrick, Pete Ferguson, James Harris, Paul Adams and George Martin react to gas shortage; 1999, Nancy Redd places in Virginia Junior Miss. (PHOTO: Ridgeway train station)
March 19 through time
1924: The beginnings of Hooker Furniture announced; 1949, The Hormel Girls were coming to town; 1960, big test for juniors; 1974, Mrs. Linda Cox’s class at Spencer school; 1999, furniture prices.
March 18 through time
1924, Bassett Minstrels at Globe Theater; 1949, third case of meningitis; 1960, MHC Women’s Club Spring Festival; 1974, new cars for MPD; 1999, ACS’s Daffodil Days fundraiser chaired by Tom Helmstutler.
March 17 through the years
1924, real estate transfers; 1949, N&S Railway asks to reduce Martinsville passenger service; 1960, snow and sleet; 1974, Secretaries of the Year; 1999, Rotary Club hosts five from Bangladesh.
March 16 through time
1924, Cross Laundry Co. on Askin Street; 1949, 1,600 attend DuPont open house; 1960, fire, snow and wrecks; 1974, sale at Holiday Furniture; 1999, Campbell Court students teach their parents how to use internet.
March 15 through time
1924, special rates at Shackelford Hospital for Red Cross; 1949, fire in Bassett; 1960, Jack Gilley’s snow zoo in Ridgeway; 1975, new computerized traffic lights; 1999, 90% of men’s bathrobes in U.S. made in Martinsville.
March 14 through the years
1924, Farmers Night at Kiwanis meeting; 1949, DuPont plant open house; 1960, gas fire in Forest Hills; 1974, adult education classes; 1999, construction at Bridge & Market. PHOTO: Thornton’s Bakery, corner of Moss and Fayette streets
March 13 through the years
1924, new manager of Henry Hotel; 1949, Ford Insurance Co. and the stumbling milkman; 1960, Civil Rights Act filibuster and Bland Scholarship winners; 1974, plans for new Administration Building; 1999, eight houses on Moss Street demolished, but oak tree across the road from Mildred Sink remained.
March 12 through the years
1924, letter from J.D. Bassett in Florida; 1949, racy Lee Telephone ad; 1960, cigarette tax; 1974, DMHS French Club fundraisers; 1999, Harvey Gardner Upholstery destroyed by fire.
March 11 through time
1924, no more chance games at county fairs, and “Observance of Prohibition Law Soon to Be Stylish”; 1949, body of Pvt. Buren W. Ingram arrives home; 1960, fashion show by MHC Women’s Club; 1974, Virginia National Bank downtown and on Rives Road; 1999, American of Martinsville to add jobs.
March 10 through the years
1924, real estate transfers; 1949, City Health Officer reports a contagious disease and quarantines; 1960, freezing rain follows 9 inches of snow; 1974, Zoble Morris president of local ACS chapter, and the Jeunettes on TV; 1999, 78 volunteers at Collinsville Primary School.
March 9 through the years
1924, a photo for history writer Judith Hill; 1949, M.L. Carter; 1960, third major snowstorm of the year; 1974, gas saved for residents only, not race fans; 1999, Akers Supermarket prices.
March 8 through time
1924, Current Events Club’s sale; 1949, City and property owners shared sidewalk costs; 1960, courteous driving award for Mrs. Groves, and teenagers convicted of operating still; 1974, Drewry Mason High School presented “1984”; 1999, funeral for Kandis Joyce, and Lafayette Jones presses for homeless shelter.
March 7 through the years
1924, Preston School honor roll; 1949, “Prillaman for Governor” club organized; 1960, Globman’s buys former First Baptist Church property; 1974, sale at Cockney Corner at Globman’s; 1999, Charles M. Aaron won a ruling before the Virginia Supreme Court.
March 6 through the years
1924, Parker’s Shoe Hospital on Bridge Street; 1949, Philco Refrigerator sale at Midway Furniture on 220; 1960, Joseph Martin School seventh-graders stranded in Richmond; 1974, metal wardrobes on sale at Sater’s Furniture; 1999, Toastmaster winners.
March 5 through time
1924, Diptheria Clinics at Axton and Stockton schools; 1949, man turns himself in after stealing Pleasant Grove Christian Church’s money; 1960, Addie Munday gives presentation at Stone Memorial; 1974, the Jaycees’ Apple Butter Month; 1999, Henry County Courthouse one of only four places to get AED, which were new then.