1924: Shop J.W. Booker & Co. to avoid the middle man; 1949, Shelton Scales presides over safety meeting; 1960, Lloyd W. Hopkins survives 12,000 volts; 1974, drug stores petition against the Blue Law; 1999, unemployment rate doubles. (PHOTO: First Presbyterian gets its steeple)

1924, Sunday School Convention at First Baptist; 1949, Robert Taylor leads traffic safety committee; 1960, woman giving away kittens to children on Windsor Lane,, much to parents’ chagrin; 1974, flash flood damages Blue Ridge Talc and Paint Co.; 1999, power companies ask for reduced use in heat wave. (PHOTO: First National Bank of Martinsville)

1924, Acme Motor Co.; 1949, water for Fieldale; 1960, Kolodny’s dress sale; 1974, MHC Public Libary’s bookmobile; 1999, dial-up internet with “round-the-clock customer care: for $11.95 on the 20-hour plan. (PHOTO: Downtown from Public Square, 1939)

1924, C.E. Neal acting postmaster in Stuart; 1949, $4 for individual phone line or $2.50 for 2-party line; 1960, Martinsville Go-Kart Club dedicates track; 1974, Wilber Sims’ radio show; 1999, traffic signal at dangerous Water Plant Road - 220 intersection. (PHOTO: Floyd’s Cash Store on Cleveland)

1924, Company H 116th infantry; 1949, tobacco growers vote on controls; 1960, Debra’s Beauty Bar; 1974, first time a charge for camping at Philpott Lake; 1999, TGIF concert series, and DeWitt House named assistant superintendent. (PHOTO: Henry County school bus)

1924, Jas. Cheshire & Son, Bridge Street; 1949, 150 entries for cattle show; 1960, Patrick Henry Golden Jubilee Camporee; 1974, Axton-Laurel Park Lions denied bingo permit; 1999, fellowship for Christopher Staples. (PHOTO: Henry County jails through time)

1924, tuberculosis cases; 1949, Elks picnic; 1960, eight Boy Scouts in Colorado; 1974, real estate slump; 1999, Charles White’s Chevyland and bad surprise for Jessie Jones Jr. (PHOTO: Fayette Street parking lot)

1924, town now has “three first-class scouts”; 1949, powerful lightning strikes; 1960, Ann Stowe and Gypsy get lessons; 1974, early day care study; and obsenity charges; 1999, Ruby Fontaine, Buford Hale and Judge William Stone Jr. (PHOTO: Bridge Street looking toward courthouse)

1924, Barrow’s Mill 4-H Club ice cream social; 1949, Ayers Skating Rink; 1960, 10 factories close for funeral of W.M. Bassett; 1974, 220/58 bypass very expensive; 1999, Piedmont Trust Bank becomes BB&T. (Photo: working tobacco)

1924, pea fowl came to the house; 1949, bids for new black high school; 1960, W.M. Bassett dies; 1974, dry spell ruining crops; 1999, Andy Brown, Jamie Eden, Minda McDorman, Erin Martin and Fletcher St. Lawrence in Tulsa; fundraiser for Blaise Borland. (PHOTO: Crowd at Public Square)

1924, plants for the yard; 1949, Drunken Springs still; 1960, Tiny Norman takes in strayed peacocks; 1974, X-rated movie war continues; 1999, VPS warn law enforcement officers. (PHOTO: Chief Tassell Service Station across from Henry Hotel)

1924, convention at Baptist Church in Bassett; 1949, reprieve from execution; 1960, pink eye epidemic in cattle; 1974, X-rated “Orgy of Revenge” seized; 1999, dentist Dr. George Stermer and others helped refugees. (PHOTO: Central Grammar School on Brown and Cleveland)

1924, conference at Broad Street Christian Church; 1949, wet weather gives peach crops brown rot; 1960, an odd dome; 1974, baton classes by Kathy Hylton Anthony; 1999, new home for probation office. (PHOTO: Draper’s Barber Shop. Note the spittoons.)

1924: Farmers are blue over too much rain; 1949, tobacco & wheat damaged by too much rain; 1960, first tomatoes; 1974, movies; 1999, Clearview School starts year-round schedule.(PHOTO: Church Street, 1940s)

1924, Rexall’s 1-cent sale; 1949, Globman’s under construction; 1960, New Assembly of God Church in Brewers Body Shop; 1974, pollution problems; 1999, Carolyn Beale involved in the arts.

1924, Globman’s Dollar Sale; 1949, Henry County tobacco growers program; 1960, W.J. Fain and son Bobby get 42-inch rattlesnake in Dyer’s Store; 1974, Ralph Lester and H.W. Bartholomay head United Way Campaign; 1999, new computerized fingerprinting equipment. (PHOTO: the Roxy theater)

1924, tent revival on Fayette Street; 1949, Latvian war refugee family taken care of in Martinsville; 1960, 12-year-old Axton boy busted; 1974, canneries at Spencer-Penn and Axton; 1999, Eltham Manor in Bassett (PHOTO: Astor Cafe and Chief Tassel building)

1924, school carpenter falls to his death; 1949, Mt. Vernon Baptist expansion; 1960, pharmacist ad; 1974, first black Ruritan Club ever, in Carver; 1999, Taylor’s Supermarket. (PHOTO: Baldwin’s Pharmacy)

1924, “the most drastic law ever passed by a legislative body in the United States on any subject”; 1949, firemen save Lester Bros. plant from fire; 1960, July Value Days; 1974, seven new houses and other permits; 1999, Carter’s “Biggest Sale of the Year!”

1924, Fair prizes include set of cups & saucers, coffee and a dozen bath towels; 1949, City votes to spray with DDT; 1960, former resident amazed at growth; 1974, Dwight Dillon, Chauncy Drewry, Doris Minter, Shirley Witt and Barry Speakman at work; 1999, National Catalog Corp. to open service center at Patrick Henry Mall. (PHOTO: Courthouse Square)