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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October 21
1925, exhibition of wildlife at county fair; 1950, crushed to death by hay; 1975, Shanghai Thomas asks for trial to be moved; 2000, miniature air show.
Oct. 20 through the years
1925, schools closed for kids to go to the fair'; 1950, strike at Fontaine Converting Works; 1975, Sparky injured. PHOTO: 1905 Snowbird Mill between Fieldale and Preston. Photo by Clarence B. Kearfott
October 19 through the years
1925, “sensational dancing feature” PHOTO: Top pair handcuffs belonged to part time deputy Harry Kirks, middle pair of his son, Delin Kirks, also a part time deputy, and dark pair sheriff O.B. Wells, Harry's grandfather. Can you find the cut mark, where a prisoner Wells was transporting to Richmond managed to file through part of the handcuff?
Oct. 18 through the years
1925, Koehler Motor Co. partnership dissolved; 1950, Fieldcrest Hosiery Mill unionizing vote; 1975, Mrs. Kowal’s strange discovery; 2000, new program for teachers’ aide at PHCC. (PHOTO: A.T. Finney, grandfather of Delin Kirks, in O.B. Wells' store on Chatham Road facing Dyers Store Road.)
October 17 through the years
1925, tragedy at stable in town; 1950, Ed Wood must report; 1975, Bunny Sadler as bulldog mascot; 2000, Douglas Hairston’s Wizard of Car. PHOTO: OB Wells, also a Henry County sheriff, in his store on Chatham Road at Dyers Store Road. Photo courtesy grandson Delin Kirks.
What happened on Oct. 16 through the years
1925, clinic for the handicapped; 1950, doctors registered for medical draft; 1975, Goode vs. Doyle'; 2000, locals in Million Family March. PHOTO: Claude Kirks and his son Harry Kirks, who lived in the brick house across from the Dodge Store in Bassett Forks. They are Delin Kirks' father and grandfather.
What happened on Oct. 15 in 1925, 1950, 1975 and 2000
1925, class rings $150 ($2,756 in today’s dollars); 1950, city manager chooses patrol mothers’ 1975, Eagles store told to move; 2000, Elegant Design & Consulting. PHOTO: Chatmoss plantation home entrance hall. House burned in 1928.
Oct. 14 in 1925, 1950, 1975 and 2000
1925, vividly colored hats at S. Heiner; 1950, Fieldale PTA drive; 1975, Growing Up Skipper Dolls at Globman’s; 2000, events at Blue Ridge Village, Stanleytown Elementary, MVHS and Fontaine Ruritan Club. PHOTO: Barbour home on Church Street.
Oct. 13 in 1925, 1950, 1975 and 2000
1925, orchestra for MHS; 1950, United Nations complements MHC; 1975, schools prepare to go all metric; 2000, options for economic development agency. PHOTO: Abe and Masha Globman, proprietors of Globman’s Department Store.
Oct. 12 through the years
1925, ladies’ coats advertised for $967 to $1,093 in today’s dollars; 1950, restocking wild game, which had been depleted; 1975, Jerry Falwell leads services at Temple Baptist Church. PHOTO: 1975, Bridge Street, buildings about to be torn down and replaced by the parking lot which is between the post office and the old courthouse.
Oct. 11 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago
1925, car dealer leaves town; 1950, Martinsville Coca-Cola plant sued; 1975, bathrobe trade-in at Globman’s; 2000, Natalie Ann Beard and Shannan Faye Bridges die in wreck. PHOTO: 1908 Nora Weisiger, Hunter Pannill, John Hamilton, Laura and Hattie Barrett and unknown driver.
Oct. 10 through the years
1925, a good life for squirrels at the courthouse; 1950, new execution dates set for Martinsville Seven; 1975, apple pricing crisis; 2000, MHS’s Trey Deal is state golf champion. PHOTO: 1874 from Courthouse Square looking down Main Street.
Oct. 9 though the years
1925, Patrick Henry Literary Society; 1950, DuPont’s Men’s Shift and Girls’ Shift Leagues; 1975, Jean Machine in Collinsville; 2000, Lisa Thomas shooting investigation. PHOTO: Old city schools
Oct. 8 through the years
1925, Elizabeth Morris wins state Temperance essay; 1950, fire-prevention movies shown at clubs; 1975, 64 from City, 16 from county drafted; 2000, hundreds attend opening day of week-long crusade. PHOTO: Phospho-Lithia Springs in Ridgeway.
Oct. 7 through the years
1925, Globman’s moves to new location; 1950, W.H. Willis grows a surprise; 1975, permanent press clothing affects antifreeze prices; 2000, volunteers take tons of trash out of river. PHOTO: 1940s Church and Bridge Streets, buildings were in what is now the post office parking lot.
Oct. 6 through the years
1925, Martinsville PTA has goal of lunch counter; 1950, Crusade for Freedom anti-communist drive starts; 1975, Martin Processing forms Temple Machinery; 2000, blood drive for Coach Change. PHOTO: Crowd in front of Setback Building. Hamilton Hotel is at left
Oct. 5 through the years
1925, decorator Harvey L. Harvey; 1950, Estron snowsuits for children; 1975, increased bus service to Bargain Fair; 2000, Nation of Islam speaker calls Lisa Thomas’s death a hate crime. PHOTO: Bus schedule, 1924
Oct. 4 through the years
1925, Union suits for sale; 1950, $6,000 house on Scuffle Hill; 1975, Minnie Bell makes 32 gallons of apple butter; 2000, MMS students starting to do their research on six websites. PHOTO: Henry County Training School, Courtesy of Fisk University.
Oct. 3 through the years
1925, new coat styles; 1950, gas-powered refrigerators; 1975, hiring a woman deputy; 2000, Arrington Manufacturing’s new plant. PHOTO: Dry Bridge School on Church Street Extension (Highway 48)
Oct. 2 through the years
1925, tremendous growth in New Bassett; 1950, farmers bring tobacco to town'; 1975, renovation of courthouse grounds; 2000, Chamber head recommends joining regional tourism efforts. PHOTO: Bottles from Martinsville dairies (Clover, Boaz, Fralin-Nunn)