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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June 18 through the years
1925 “Lovely Things at Little Prices” at Rippe-Prager’s; 1950, 200 boys attend 2-night Boy Scout pageant; 1975, MHC Bicentennial Commission'; 2000, 10 candidates vie for the late Jack Dalton’s seat. (PHOTO: Masons in Martinsville Plaza)
June 17 through the years
1925, families quarantined with smallpox; 1950, Martinsville Seven attorney plans to request commute of sentences; 1975, 7-year-old thrown from fair ride; 2000, First Baptist Church associate pastor to move away after Southern Baptist Convention proclamation. (PHOTO: Gulf Station in front, home of H.C. Lester in back)
June 16 through the years
1925, Martinsville leads the state in American Legion fundraiser; 1950, Father’s Day gifts at Fagg’s Drug Store; 1975, MFD restoring 1934 American LaFrance; 2000, expansion of Calvary Christian Church. (PHOTO: Globman's and Chief Tassel Building)
June 15 through time
1925, Patrick Springs Hotel opens for season; 1950, more than a third of all City arrests are drunk cases; 1975, 3-day horse show at Fontaine Field; 2000, Tultex about to lay off 5 of its remaining 11 employees. (PHOTO: Church Street. The buildings on the left were torn down in 1975. That is now the post office parking lot.)
June 14 through the years
1925, small pox; 1950, three-legged chick arrives at the Davis’ Planters Feed Store; 1975, William Haywood Swanson Jr. dies in wreck; 2000, Exchange Club’s Freedom Shrine at Liberty Fair Mall. (PHOTO: Church Street looking west)
June 13 through the years
1925, clipping parties are all the rage; 1950, elections; 1975, “a pretty good stud:”; 2000, auction of leftover Tultex items. (PHOTO: Bridge Street)
June 12 through the years
1925, “The Birth of A Nation” at the Hamilton; 1950, fundraiser for Mrs. Ann Angel, paralyzed; 1975, arrests at Castle Court Motel; 2000, promotion for Lt. Col. Dennis Via. (PHOTO: Astor Cafe)
June 11 through the years
1925, clinic for sick or undernourished children; 1950 crowded race for City Council; 1975, X-rated movies at drive-in replaced by R-rated movies with risque titles; 2000, Cathy Spencer and Teresa Weaver. (PHOTO: Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Church)
June 10 through the century
1925, radium silk; 1950, rapid population growth; 1975, strawberry pie at Janlen’s Steakhouse and Parlour; 2000, Hot Fun in the Summertime XIX Beach Music Festival. (PHOTO: 1975, buildings at Church and Broad being torn down)
June 9 through time
1925, double wedding for Morris sisters of Bassett; 1950, firetruck-chasing a big problem in the city; 1975, firespotter William Hass Miles; 2000, time capsule for Class of 2000. (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)
June 8 through time
1925, dimity, percale and chambray at J.W. Minter’s store; 1950, free chest X-rays to check for tuberculosis; 1975, Marie Downey founds local La Leche League chapter, with Jane Iten as a charter member; 2000, new dugouts needed for Hooker Field. (PHOTO: 1955, fire at Pythian Building)
June 7 through time
1925, Ice Cream at Robert’s Drug Store; 1950, Mitchell Motors donates panel truck to MVFD; 1975, “High Pockets” is MHC Chamber’s mascot; 2000, Virginia Hall Stanley, Martinsville Democratic Party’s first woman chairman, dies. (PHOTO: 1950s Floyds Cash Store on Cleveland)
June 6 through the years
1925, Tobacco Growers Co-operative Ass’n; 1950, public hearing on plumbing code for city; 1975, Tom Noland recommends raising bus fare to help City budget; 2000, supervisor application forms found to be excessive. (PHOTO: 1940s Church Street looking east)
June 5 across the years
1925, downtown burglaries; 1950, Ellsworth Street Baptist Church building for sale, and Central Baptist is completed; 1975, three generations of Edd Redd family take driving class together; 2000, unlimited night and weekend minutes for cell phone. (PHOTO: Elllsworth Street Baptist Church in 1950 and now)
June 4 through the century
1925, walls and roof of Globman’s and Gravely’s Hardware cave in; 1950, graduation day; 1975, Lacy Manufacturing; 2000, Grayson’s Barber Shop. (PHOTO: 1940s Church and Bridge Streets, buildings were in what is now the post office parking lot)
June 3 through the years
1925, telephone poles going up between Bassett & Rocky Mount; 1950, Dr. Vickers’ sudden death; 1975, Morton Lester recommends laying off 10% of City workforce; 2000, Mary Anna Jackson & Mildred Lee UDC ceremony at cemetery. (PHOTO: 1938, Chief Tassel Building and Gulf Service Station on Church Street.)
June 2 through the years
1925, 70 new Martinsville members of Junior Order of United American Mechanics initiated; 1950, students testify on behalf of bus driver; 1975, City signs on for NASA windmill program; 2000, Bruce Dallas gives up Democratic credentials for Virgil Goode. (PHOTO: 1920s Roxy Theatre on Church Street)
June 1 through the years
1925, largest yet graduating class of MHS; 1950, Miss Ruth Williams re-appointed as trial justice; 1975, new American LaFrance fire truck for MFD; 2000, Mike Seidle elected chair. (PHOTO: Martinsville High School in the 1920s.)
May 31 through time
1925, Red Cross Clinic for Crippled Children and Adults; 1950, promotion for Ginny Richards (now Ginny Wray); 2000, perfect SAT score for Stefan Mlot of MHS. (PHOTO: Covered bridge near Martinsville, 1911)
May 30 through time
1925, hundreds of visitors for Dokies; 1950, Robert H. Haskell Jr. to buy the Bulletin; 1975, “Laura” by the Playmakers; 2000, Stee-Fers Flower Shop and Wedding Chapel. (PHOTO: Eating melons on Courthouse Square, by Hugh Kearfott)