1924, Better Manners Week; 1949, churches unite for Thanksgiving services; 1960, milestone train rides; 1974, Tayor’s Supermarket; 1999, new paint and ink plant. (PHOTO: Thomas Block, along Main Street from Bridge to Walnut, with Smiths Hardware, Putzels Grocery Store, Gregorys Confectionery, Lavider Store and Thomas Law Office at later home of Kearfott Drug Store.)

1924, church ladies sell pies, cakes, dressed rabbits, squirrels, celery and more; 1949, Virginia-Carolina Flying Service; 1960, City electric lines disturbing local TV and radio reception; 1974, American Furniture Co. lays off 10% of workers; 1999, Sanville Utilities owner faces federal charges. (PHOTO: The Henry Hotel was home to many a visiting salesmen.)

1924, toy ads; 1949, quail flee dogs at first day of hunting season; 1960, Martinsville Machine Works makes new machine for furniture industry; 1974, Hop-In Market robbed; 1999, contemporary worship at Smith UMC.

1924, KKK march through town; 1949, test for new Smith River bridge; 1960, Pony League baseball; 1974, John Crews, Al Ramsey and Ebb Williams on TV from Caesar’s Palace; 1999, Cindy Lucas’s Top-Toe Designer Resale Shoes. (PHOTO: Telephone pole installer Tuck Fontaine on top of a telephone pole in 1903. The Setback Building, home to the law offices of Gravely and Carter and dentist C.T. Womack, is at right.)

1924, Moore’s Interstate Bus Line; 1949, first trip to dentist at 96; 1960, Judd Schreibfeder’s acting career; 1974, Christmas Club prizes; 1999, MURA and Gateway Streetscape sell Christmas decorations. (PHOTO: Sinclair Gasoline station was started by Henry Sinclair in 1916)

1924, “if you hesitate to follow their signals they may have to Ku Klux you”; 1949, new garbage machine for dump in Chatham Heights; 1960, attention for new MHS gym; 1974, “The Loan Arranger”; 1999, school computer labs open at night for parents to learn.

1924, Christian, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches share revival; 1949, final fundraising for hospital for black patients; 1960, 8-year-old shooting champ; 1974, Bob White’s Chevyland; 1999, bankruptcy for Patrick Community Hospital. (PHOTO: Post Office on Church Street, with a clock and a newsstand at the corner opposite, in 1953)

1924, new Studebaker; 1949, 4,501 customers for city electricity; 1960, Globman’s Toyland; 1974, new pollution controls for 18 industries; 1999, death of Martinsville Speedway founder.

1924, first day of Hooker-Bassett Furniture Co.; 1949, Santa’s flight plans; 1960, consumers’ opinions; 1974, crimes against taxi drivers; 1999, $5 Christmas trees.

1924, huge public KKK event in town, with lit 30-foot cross; 1949, Red Scare affects Martinsville Seven appeal possibilities; 1960, field trip across state; 1974, $9 million in tobacco sales; 1999, Joy Shumate and Cathy Spencer honored. (PHOTO: Martinsville Canning Plant, where people canned their own fruits and vegetables.)

1924, Patrick County produces 14,700 barrels of apples; 1949, Whittle’s and Shackelford’s champion bulls; 1960, painter J.W. Hubbard; 1900, investigation of Sanville Utilities. (PHOTO: Looking down on Courthouse Square from the Kearfott Building, early 1900s)

1924, Legionaires celebrate Armistice; 1949, citywide heating inspection; 1960, Peaks of Otter District Ruritans; 1974, Busy Bee owner does not want to leave; 1999, Ashmore Sportswear closes. (PHOTO: Laying the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple on the corner of Bridge and Church streets in 1914. Hamilton Hotel is in background.)

1924, big Armistice Day parade; 1949, Martinsville dairy businesses; 1960, Billy Joe Saunders, 8, is shooting champion; 1974, Brig. Gen. Richard Prillaman; 1999, Jessie Hairston saved by cousin Loretta Hairston. (PHOTO: Inside Kearfott's Drug Store)

1924, promises from 200 men after inspirational revival; 1949, 140 men first workers at dam; 1960, church women cook lunch for businessmen; 1974, probation home for girls'; 1999, artist David Yeaman’s library donated. (PHOTO: Hundley's Livery Stable on the corner of Main Street and Ford Street, near Public Square.)

1924, fire at Piedmont Christian Institute; 1949, construction begins on Philpott Dam; 1960, Christmas gifts from Troxler’s and Nathan’s; 1974, keys to new county jail; 1999, Blue Ridge Regional Library gets computerized. (PHOTO: Martinsville’s first service station, Eggleston Motor Co.)

1924, Chinese Supper; 1949, meeting at Club Martinique; 1960, Nixon beats Kennedy - in Martinsville, at least; 1974, counting leaves; 1999, Pebble Creek subdivision. (PHOTO: Crowd in front of Setback Building. Hamilton Hotel is at left.)

1924, tax collector announces his pick-up schedule; 1949, work on Martinsville-Stuart road begins; 1960, political question; 1999, deaths in Stuart paper mill. (PHOTO: Corner of Starling Avenue and Spring Street, home of Dr. Harvey Price.)

1924, Kiwanis want to bring power to Martinsville; 1949, too many fireworks'; 1960, busy weekend for police; 1974, sewing classes at PHCC; 1999, John R. Redd Veteran of the Year. (PHOTO: Astor Cafe, Gulf Station and Chief Tassel Building)

1924, Mrs. Moore wins Kitchen Contest; 1949, no review of Martinsville Seven case; 1960, clothing drive; 1974, voters reject liquor by the drink; 1999, Rich Acres looking into year-round school. (PHOTO: 1899 Martinsville from Gravely Street looking towards Bridge, College and Broad streets. Broad Street Christian Church is center, English-belcher Tobacco factory at lower right, Stultz Bros. in bit white building left of center)

1924, Exalted Cyclops calls all KKK members to midnight meeting at cemetery; 1949, old Andes house to become library; 1960, businesses; 1974, layoffs at Dominion LOF; 1999, pies in the face for Principal Dean Randall at Carver Middle School. (PHOTO: WMVA News Director from 1968 to 1990 Owen Hall)