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 4/30/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/30/25

April 30

1925, Bassett Hotel destroyed by fire; 1950, DeShazo Lumber Co. to finish hospital; 1975, railway car overturns; 2000, crazy chain of wrecks.

(PHOTO: Foundry on Bridge Street)

Holly Kozelsky 4/29/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/29/25

April 29 through time

1925, S. Heiner opens new store in Bassett; 1950, Bassett Section Rally for Boy Scouts; 1975, Jan Pinkston’s home decorating class; 2000, first online City Council form had 300 computers logged on to it.

(PHOTO: J.R. Smith home)

Holly Kozelsky 4/28/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/28/25

April 28 through the years

1925, Patrick Springs Hotel for sale; 1950, Mrs. Terry fined for cursing a neighbor; 1975, Dan River Queen; 2000, TGIF with Station Wagon, Domino, The Rougues, FATZ, Key West and Cimmaron.

(PHOTO: Dr. M. E. Hundley, from Doug Stegall)

Holly Kozelsky 4/27/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/27/25

April 27

1925, C.W. Holt in New York City shopping for fashions for his store; 1950, house and garden tours; 1975, largest ever crowd at Speedway; 2000, H.L. Altice catches 48-pound bass.

(PHOTO: Martinsville Hospital)

Holly Kozelsky 4/26/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/26/25

April 26

1925, evangelist preaches at 5 churches in one day; 1950, Albert Harris Elementary School dedicated; 1975, 15-year-old bride in court; 2000, Dr. Elizabeth Vaughn hits national media for her sexy outfits at work.

(PHOTO: Dr. Hundley and his mother)

Holly Kozelsky 4/25/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/25/25

April 25

1925, break-in at Heiner’s Store; 1950, Southern Railroad strike; 1975, Stanly Furniture’s “Country Fair” line; 2000, Sid Clowder complains about NAFTA.

(PHOTO: Philpott Marina)

Holly Kozelsky 4/24/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/24/25

April 24

1925, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union awards; 1950, Clean-Up Week in Fieldale; 1975, furniture styles cater to bicentennial; 2000, Villa Heights Community Clean-Up.

(PHOTO: Church Street from Walnut)

Holly Kozelsky 4/23/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/23/25

April 23

1925, “Summer Comfort Underwear”; 1950, construction on new high school for black students; 1975, high honors for MHS publications; 2000, Sportsman’s Club Easter egg hunt.

(PHOTO: Browns Warehouse bell)

Holly Kozelsky 4/22/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/22/25

April 22

1925, mountaineer killed in raid; 1950, Henry Co. Tuberculosis Assn.; 1975, Gindy Manufacturing in Ridgeway; 2000, Disc Jockey store at Liberty Fair Mall.

(PHOTO: Bridge and Walnut)

Holly Kozelsky 4/21/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/21/25

April 21

1925, “Splendid Woman Dies At Preston”; 1950, fundraiser for playground equipment at PHES; 1975, ANCHOR House raffle winners; 2000, 2,000 Easter eggs in hunt.

(PHOTO: Chief Tassel Service Station across from Henry Hotel)

Holly Kozelsky 4/20/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/20/25

April 20

1925, suit on electricity; 1950, 4,000 fishermen in Patrick County hit the waters; 1975, DuPont returns to full-time work; 2000, afghans for nursing homes.

(PHOTO: Standard Garment on Cabell Street)

Holly Kozelsky 4/19/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/19/25

April 19 through time

1925, major donation from Ku Klux Klan; 1950, rooms for rent; 1975, MHC vocational students build foundry; 2000, Carilion Health System clinic opens.

(PHOTO: Barbour home 1921)

Holly Kozelsky 4/18/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/18/25

April 18

1925, tub dresses; 1950, Finney & Payne; 1975, Deputy Zeb Scales acting sheriff; 2000, second robbery at Papa John’s.

(PHOTO: Shackelford Hospital on Church Street)

Holly Kozelsky 4/17/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/17/25

April 17 through the years

1925, salaries for wagon vs. motor mail routes; 1950, 400 acres in Mountain Valley burned; 1975, Patrick County sheriff fired; 2000, fire damages 9 Rivermont apartments.

(PHOTO: 1928 schoolhouse)

Holly Kozelsky 4/16/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/16/25

April 16 through time

1925, the importance of shopping local; 1950, moving Globman’s; 1975, “Mr. Softball” Odie Adkins; 2000, field trip for Spencer-Penn and Fieldale students. (PHOTO: Downtown from Public Square, 1939)

Holly Kozelsky 4/15/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/15/25

April 15 through time

1925, hundreds to go church in Winston-Salem; 1950, arrangements for special police; 1975, lie detector tests for deputies; 2000, enterprise zone. (PHOTO: Fieldale YMCA)

Holly Kozelsky 4/14/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/14/25

April 14 through the years

1925, Kaplon’s grand opening; 1950, new two-way radios for officers; 1975, founders of Retail Mechants Association; 2000, Mt. Olivet students raise money. (PHOTO: Floyd’s Cash Store on Cleveland Avenue)

Holly Kozelsky 4/13/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/13/25

April 13

1925, Easter frocks at Holt; 1950, “Miss America for Beauty - Mr. Big for size"! The ‘50 Ford …” 1975, new building for Hairston Funeral Home; 2000, Nylstar to open plant. (PHOTO: 1940s Stone Mercantile and Prillaman Hotel)

Holly Kozelsky 4/12/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/12/25

April 12

1925, “slender silhouette” rules fashion; 1950, new execution dates for Martinsville Seven; 1975, 5 1/4% at Imperial S&L; 2000, PTO gets playground equipment for Irisburg School. (PHOTO: foundry on Bridge Street)

Holly Kozelsky 4/11/25 Holly Kozelsky 4/11/25

April 11

1925, discount for sugar in bulk; 1950, Mrs. Pyle wins Betty Crocker contest; 1975, AMC Auto Center with Posey Mize, George Joyce, Mack Lovell and Jim Mills; 2000, Lawrence Severt runs 150-mile ultramarathon in Sahara Desert. (PHOTO: Golden Skillet)