1924, judge speaks on race relations; 1949, new fogging machine for citywide spraying of Chloradine; 1960, new school song for Fieldale High; 1974, first teacher of MARC retires; 1999, 2nd Lt. Sherri Sharpe graduates and begins her military career. (PHOTO: Foundry on Bridge Street)

1924, 250 attend lecture at Farmers Warehouse; 1949, Civil Rights Congress steps up; 1960, Albert Harris High School’s Evening of Music; 1974, changes made to controversial plan; 1999, New Jerusalem Apostle Church brings lunch to nurses.

1924, “The Whipping Boss”; 1949, Du Pont wins 10th safety award; 1960, Girl Scouts get roller-skating badges; 1974, movies (including “The Naughtiest Show in Town”) in Martinsville; 1999, Piedmont Community Services building under construction. (PHOTO: Martinsville’s high school)

1924, stranded Studebaker with illicit liquor seized; 1949, attorney out fishing; 1960, Fieldale Kart Club opened; 1974, bicentennial plans; 1999, 63 charged in drug sting. (PHOTO: Courthouse Square)

1924, Walker-Fair Hardware Co. buys out T.N. Barbour hardware; 1949, Martinsville produces surplus of milk; 1960, Bassett Community Center almost finished; 1974, Dyers Store VFD sponsors motocross race; 1999, Rives shows “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” to capacity crowd.v(PHOTO: Stone Mercantile and Prillaman Hotel 1940s)

1924, specials at C.W. Holt; 1949, road from Martinsville to Stuart to be built with prison labor; 1960, MHS presents “Oklahoma!”; 1999, “school safety summits” (PHOTO: Esso station where Dollar General is now)

1924, award offered for missing mule; 1949, electrical storm wreaks havoc; 1960, beauty pageant; 1974, help wanted ads specified age, gender; 1999, playground equipment dedicated to the late Archie Vipperman. (PHOTO: Billy Roger “Cowboy” Penn riding his horse in Bassett)

1924, Mulberry Street gets its start; 1949, cows die across county; 1960, hepatitis outbreak; 1974, 420 tour iris gardens of the Arthur Davises in Oak Level; 1999, Fieldcrest Lodge neighbors protest property proposal. (PHOTO: Ad for J.B. Lavinder’s store in Martinsville, Aug. 21, 1885, Martinsville Herald)

1924, husband charged in Fontaine murder; 1949, Rajah Temple Dokkies meeting and dance in Martinsville; 1960, Patricia Stillwell and Irene Hedgecock win; 1974, Stella Spencer’s beauty pageant; 1999, Pluma announces bankruptcy. (PHOTO: Former Martinsville General Hospital, where Virginia Museum of Natural History is now.)

1924, Methodists beat Baptists in spelling bee at tobacco warehouse; 1949, open house for water filtration plant; 1960, eight local movie theaters; laundry truck stolen; 1974, Posey Mize Motor Co. (PHOTO: Farmers Warehouse where the spelling bee was held. It’s the large building on Brookdale, with the car on the roof.)

1924, unprecedented amount of new construction in Martinsville; 1949, NAACP announces it would get involved in the Martinsville Seven case; 1960, Patrick County raised half the $300,000 needed to build hospital; 1974, 900 attend meeting on controversial Henry Co. subdivision ordinance; 1999, brush cleared from Korean Memorial at the road named for it. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture, 1921)

1924, Nancy Gravely Eggleston of Fontaine murdered; 1949, Frith brothers of service station convicted on liquor charges; 1960, runaway pig; 1974, modern Wurlitzer Electronic Funmaker Spinet Organs at Leed’s Music Center; 1999, City donates fire truck to new Henry VFD. (PHOTO: Dr. Dana Baldwin’s Sandy Beach Resort)

1924, KKK makes dramatic gesture at revival meeting, and preacher accepts; also, D&W Railway Co. decides to do away with stations at Aiken Summitt, Preston and Stella; 1949, tobacco damage; 1960, new golf course at Forest Park; 1974, US 220-58 bypass under construction; 1999, Career Day at Figsboro Elementary. (PHOTO: Henry Hotel, 1921 Henry Bulletin)

1924, Henry County native candidate for Indiana Congress; 1949, state science honors for two MHS seniors; 1960, Comet for $2,095 in Bassett; 1974, Julia Harrell rode unicycle to Druid Hills Elementary; 1999, new pitching machine for Fieldale Community Center. (PHOTO: John R. Smith home, 1921 Henry Bulletin)

1924, blue mold ruined early plantings of tobacco; 1949, Martinsville Wholesale Grocery Co. incorporated; 1960, May Day program at Irisburg Elementary; 200 Kiwanians at banquet; 1974, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; 1999, Hooker Field gets blend of synthetic & natural. (PHOTO: Lester Lumber Company)

1924, legal battle over Hairston estate and hospital site; 1949, “Mr. Moth Rest in Peace;” 1960, Patrick County plans to raise $300,000 for new hospital; 1974, chain letters; 1999, “Operation Lightning Strike” in Franklin County. (PHOTO: Secretaries banquet, April 28, 1974, Martinsville Bulletin)

1924, naming contest for confectionery; 1949, 1,500 attend Kiwanis’ quiz program; 1960, Boy Scout Council aims to enlarge Camp Powhatan; 1974, City Council shake-up ends Francis West’s political career; 1999, new surveillance cameras for Henry County buses and school hallways. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture Co., 1921 Martinsville Bulletin)

1924, Garden Club’s flower sale; 1949, demonstration on Walter Collins’ Axton farm, and prohibition agent arraigned; 1960, major trip for Boy Scouts; 1974, Col. Richard Prillaman nominated by President Nixon; 1999, Horsepasture Volunteer Rescue Squad expands. (PHOTO: First Baptist Church on Broad and Church Streets)

1924, Flower Show in Martinsville; 1949, N&W Railway Co. to discontinue two trains, and Exposition Queen Anita Arnold; 1960, liquor round-up; 1974, phone books and paper drives; 1999, Star Wars toys flop. (PHOTO: Pannill home on Starling Avenue, 1921 Martinsville Bulletin)

1923, 768 motor- and horse-drawn school buses in Virginia; 1949, Hampton, Hairston and Miller [Martinsville Seven] sentenced to electrocution; 1960, MHS student Ed Colston prodces 200 proof alcohol in experiment; 1974, Flower View and Dogwood garden clubs; 1999, Bassett-Walker closes Kingston plant. (PHOTO: MHS bed-pushers, led by Danny Turner)