1925, open house for First National Bank’s extravagant new building; 1950, City approves plumbing code without controversial provision; 1975, $300 microwave oven; 2000, Habitat for Humanity’s 16th local house. (PHOTO: Globman’s in 1929)

1925, Edna McMillan, 17, canned 74 jars of produce; 1950, new kitchen technology at Finney & Payne; 1975, Lee Sigmon bucks gas company’s requirement to keep station open on Sundays'; 2000, London officer joins City Officer Brian Davis for 3 days. (PHOTO: Smith River flooding in 1939)

1925, supper at Henry Hotel for City police and fire forces; 1950, Ferrum man survives being run over by train; 1975, Lakewood Trail residents protest modular houses; 2000, scholarships for Sheneka Hairston, Maria Belcher, Soyini-Amma Cross, Keisha Martin. (PHOTO: Russell's Drive-In, Bassett)

1925, Roudabout Club; 1950, special Ford Police automobiles; 1975, new building for Piedmont Trust Bank in Stanleytown; 2000, Goose Point to be made into campground. (PHOTO: Roxy, Fields and Legget)

1925, the Cross-Word craze hits Martinsville; 1950, Pannill sues trucking company for lost yarn; 1975, parents file lawsuit against carnival operator; Dr. David Adkins calls Southern Baptist Convention declaration the result of “hostile takeover.” (PHOTO: Rives Theatre)

1925, Davis Dry Cleaning; 1950, Ridgeway FFA members Conrad Knight, Alvin Scott & Kenneth Dunn; 1975, Glenn Richard Compton killed in wreck; 2000, crossguard Lillian Foster retires. (PHOTO: Planters Tobacco Warehouse)

1925, downtown stores close at noon Wednesdays to give their workers a break from the heat; 1950, men killed in collapse of Farmers Warehouse; 1975, hospital liability insurance rises drastically; 2000, Shirley Fink’s AIDS tapestry. (PHOTO: Piedmont Creamery Company on corner of Moss and Church)

1925, plans for golf club; 1950, Finney & Payne advertise free parking; 1975, Tosh and Nagle kids; Sportsman Club agree to take Community Hospital building; 2000, J&J Trains & Hobbies. (PHOTO: Pannill Knitting Company)

1925, “The best dance that was ever given in Martinsville;” 1950, new broadcasting equipment; 1975, flip-number clock radio and push-button cassette recorder; 2000, Intelos cell phones. (PHOTO: old Globman’s)

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)

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)

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)

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.)

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)

1925, clipping parties are all the rage; 1950, elections; 1975, “a pretty good stud:”; 2000, auction of leftover Tultex items. (PHOTO: Bridge Street)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)