1924, wool blankets good for couch covers or auto robes; 1949, new tobacco warehouse approved; 1960, search for garbage dump sites; 1974, Ted’s for men; 1999, first explosives-sniffing dog. (PHOTO: Lavinder Springs and Store about 1899, once the crossroads of town. On Memorial Blvd near Bridge. Bulletin founder JBC Ambrose on porch, Powhatan Daniels, Mr. and Mrs. Lavinder, EF Holt in wagon, TC Bouldin beside it)

1924, Rubber Reducing Garment replaces the corset; 1949, Hackler-Seymour Metal Works; 1960, N&W Railway wants to stop passenger service; 1974, Jack Billings dies at work; 1999, Dr. Elizabeth Moore teaches local archaeology class. (PHOTO: Kroger on Church Street next to Rives Theatre)

1924, official resolutions for the dearly departed; 1947, $2,265 plus $46/month for three sets of 2-way radios; 1960, cold escapee returns to prison; 1974, rifle shortage; 1999, Bishop Robert Kellam’s anti-drug march. (PHOTO: The Jesus Joint in downtown Martinsville)

1924, real estate financing; 1949, Educational Week at High Street Baptist; 1960, Bridge Street attorneys; 1974, pollution control system at Henry Co. Plywood; 1999, 187th Paraglider Infantry Regiment reunion in Martinsville.

1924, locals win big in Danville apple show; 1949, Prillaman’s $2,000 bull; 1960, Santa’s first letter of 1960 comes from Ann Pannill; 1974, Fieldale Towel Mill closed for a week; 1999, PHCC enrollment hits high of 3,115. (PHOTO: Fuller Tire Co.)

1924, census begins to see of Town can become City; 1949, toy drive; 1960, Family and Gifts Division of United Fund; 1974, falling tree top kills Joe Hayden; 1999, ceremony for new Frith building at PHCC. (PHOTO: First Presbyterian Church next to Chief Tassel building. After it was torn down, a Woolworth was built there.)

1924, Martinsville Cotillion Club; 1949, John Riddle returns after mysterious absence; 1960, “what a way to meet your neighbors”; 1974, digging begins for Indian graves; 1999, renovations at Fairy Stone State Park. (PHOTO: Fagg’s Drug Store)

1924, Prizes for best grasses; 1949, injuries after scaffolding fall at Fieldale'; 1960, 200 at Methodist District meeting; 1974, King’s Family Center portraits; 1999, Junior Lee Lawlss, Lynn Prillaman Mabe, Brad Parker and Roy L. Thomas. (PHOTO: David Minter in front of Broad Street Hotel with his 1961 Chevrolet convertible)

1924, top prizes; 1949, Community Fund; 1960, Christmas Cheer meeting; 1974, “DISCO: The DOIN’ IT People”; 1999, Versharn Scales’ new mansion. (PHOTO: Construction of Woolworths, showing Chief Tassel building at left and the old First Baptist Church, which was torn down in 1960 and now is a parking lot.)

1924, famous equestrian stars at circus; 1949, Flori Roberts cosmetics; 1960, Boy Scout uniform drive; 1974, Imperial Savings and Loan; 1999, Courthouse Days. (PHOTO: Church Street business section from postcard)

1924, Fair director quits over merchandise wheels; 1949, rock wool on sale; 1960, Fieldale HS yearbook wins prize; 1974, Joseph Martin school may close; 1999, Pluma’s going-out-of-business sale. (PHOTO: Chief Tassel Service Station where car wash is now at the bottom of the Big Chair parking lot, facing Broad Street)

1924, “the dry United States”; 1949, Lucy Manns refuses to give up bus seat; 1960, trying out new road lines; 1974, Chief Carver Jim Childs at Stanley; 1999, sewage problems in Stone’s Dairy area. (PHOTO: Alley behind Globman’s)

1924, Roy Prillaman’s kidneys not acting right at all; 1949, coal shortage; 1960, Martinsville VFD asks for reduced funding; 1974, prizes for bank deposits; 1999, Hurricane Floyd donations. (PHOTO: Admiral Richard Byrd lands his Trimotor in a field in Forest Park.)

1924, Self Repair Co. on Main St.; 1949, Martinsville studies natural gas; 1960, Ronnie Kallam wins national prize for chicken-cutting'; 1974, S&H Stamps at Akers’ Supermarket; 1999, candidate forum at Morning Star. (PHOTO: A Martinsville City Cab in 1958 behind the Tuggle home which was where that small parking lot is between Globmans and Lee Telephone)

1924, Richardson Electric Co., Bridge St.; 1949, model of Philpott Dam at bank; 1960, 28 Girl Scout troops and 76 Boy Scout troops in MHC; 1974, new plant for Jessup Furniture; 1999, teachers visit from Japan. (PHOTO: 1901 looking down Franklin Street. Banner Warehouse and Alliance Warehouse, burned in 1951, were where Franklin Street parking lot is now)

1924, Hawaiian Theatre at fair; 1949, 250K pounds of tobacco; 1960, Lonnie Pearson, 13, dead from boxcar fall; 1974, end of the Busy Bee Cafe; 1999, "What Would Jesus Do" at three local churches. (PHOTO: Eggleston Motor Company which pumped Texaco gas)

1924, men injured in Hooker-Bassett fall; 1949, big role for Geneva Hairston; 1960, United Fund emergency relief; 1974, tours of new county jail; 1999, victim found. (PHOTO: David Minter walking on Chestnut Street; McKee funerla home is at right)

1924, Dokies in regalia; 1949, Axton Community Fair and new church; 1960, Public Library; 1974, 23-year-old cat; 1999, layoffs at Tultex. (PHOTO: Martinsville-Henry County Memorial Hospital)

1924, when the fair was a big deal; 1949, break-in at Dr. Baldwin's; 1960, United Fund helps polio victims; 1974, firewood price increase; 1999, Hooker employees help hurricane victims.

1924, Diphtheria-prevention clinics in schools; 1949, sweet potatoes; 1960, Transient Aid to the rescue; 1974, night school; 1999, at MovieTown.