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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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 6

1924, Martinsville Women’s Christian Temperance Union; 1949, first equipment arrives to Philpott Dam site; 1960, bus crashes on Snow Creek Road; 1974, Eugene Burroughs practiced dowser; 1999, Tultux posts losses. (PHOTO: Church Street in the 1940s)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 5

1924, annual WMU of Baptist Blue Ridge Assn. meets in Axton; 1949, “young people” conduct Martinsville traffic survey; 1960, MHC Health Department gives polio vaccines; 1974, 750 attend Prillaman reunion; 1999, Tultex cuts losses.

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 4

1924, neighbors upset over morgue on Broad Street; 1949, Ladies Specialty Shop; 1960, arrested for drunk in public — in court — twice; 1974, first tobacco farmers to market; 1999, Andre Pace killed in hit and run. (PHOTO: Walnut Street)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 3

1924, McCabe preaches dedication of Fieldale Baptist Church; 1949, four farmers growing tobacco without allotment to pay penalty; 1960, new policy for married MHS students; 1974, MHC Volunteer Rescue Squad under investigation; 1999, Clearview in session as year-round school. (PHOTO: Train derailed in Koehler)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 2

1924, mock wedding at Kiwanis Club’s Bachelor’s Night; 1949, Oosey Isley shoots 66; a dozen tobacco farmers to take penalties 1960, John Yeaman consults R.P. Gravely family over jellyfish at Philpott Lake; 1974, Henry County Board of Supervisors sued by two groups; 1999, PHCC tuition goes down. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture Company plant)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

August 1

1924, Telegraph office moves from Central Drug to bakery; 1949, Charles H. Davis Jr. of Martinsville wins fellowship at Yale; 1960, Boy Scouts ride in double-deck bus to canoe trip; 1974, famous names found in signatures at Henry County court office; 1999, tree crashes through roof as family mourns the loss of Teresa Hairston. (PHOTO: Whittle home on Church Street)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 31

1924, Broad Street church building sold to undertaker; 1949, City sprays DDT and Choridene; 1960, row of rose bushes; 1974, sale at JC Penney; 1999, Wise Recycling contest winners. (PHOTO: Church Street)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 30

1924, bathing suit sale; 1949, city prison farm gets contract for Mt. Olivet Road gravel; 1960, National Guard unites leave for encampment; 1974, welfare reform; 1999, sprucing up Jackson Street Children’s Park. (PHOTO: Henry Lester home on Church Street)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 29

1924, wanted: huckelberries and beeswax; 1949, absentee ballots; 1960, John Redd Smith Jr. chooses Nixon over Kennedy; 1974, Operation Up and Fairystone Squares; 1999, digital internet.

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 28

1924, barn flues; 1949, Circle K Ranch and Famous Hollywood Thrill Circus; 1960, “a little free advice” for 15-year-olds; 1974, bikes popular as transportation and for stealing; 1999, Readers Choice on East Main Street. (PHOTO: Coy Foster and Avis Carter)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 27

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 26

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 25

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 24

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 23

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 22

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 20

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 18

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 19

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)

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Holly Kozelsky Holly Kozelsky

July 17

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)

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