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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August 28 through the years
1925, Roberts Drug Co.; 1950, U.N. Flag Fund; 1975, Helicopter band; 2000, David Yeaman’s art goes to the Smithsonian. (PHOTO: Martinsville Train Depot)
August 27 through the years
1925, Kiwanis Club outdoor meeting with sandwiches (tongue, ham, chicken salad & tomato); 1950, ads for housekeepers; 1975, crop damage from hail; 2000, IDA to buy Tultex building. (PHOTO: the Jesus Joint)
August 26 through the years
1925, Piedmont Trust Bank; 1950, Henry County Industrial Expo auction; 1975, grant for driver training range; 2000, people on probation barred from Rivermont Apartments. (PHOTO: Fuller Tire Company 114 West Church Street)
August 25 through the years
1925, telegraph manager needs a breaks; 1950, City population 17,210; 1975, Exchange Club’s first fair; 2000, Tommy Grimes at Spencer airport. (PHOTO: Presbyterian Church next to Chief Tassel building. After it was torn down, a Woolworth was built there.)
August 24 through time
1925, still seized near Figsboro; 1950, rainstorm does heavy damage; 1975, Mary Anna Jackson UDC earns A-1 status; 2000, Altrusa aims to provide fire rescue technology. (PHOTO: David Minter walking from Sinclairs on Chestnut Street, which runs between Broad and Bridge. McKee Funeral Home is at right.)
August 23 through the years
1925, school proposed for Firestone Brick / Stanley Furniture area; 1950, Martin’s Sandwich Shop; 1975, bluegrass music festival in Leatherwood; 2000, Harris Grocery destroyed by fire. (PHOTO: Fagg’s Drug Store)
August 22 through the years
1925, 3,000 attend Farmers Picnic & Rally; 1950, Henry County Industrial Exposition; 1975, promotion for Marie Jamerson; 2000, schools ban pagers, start day with moment of silence. (PHOTO: David Minter in front of Broad Street Hotel)
August 21 through the years MHC
1925, O.V. Huskey Service Company; 1950, 75 local men leave for draft physicals; 1975, MHC Oilers return to great fanfare; 2000, child care centers. (PHOTO: Chief Tassel Service Station where car wash is now, at the bottom of the Big Chair parking lot, facing Broad Street.)
August 20 in MHC through the years
1925, “Bountiful Harvest” at Piedmont Trust Bank; 1950, insurance company’s Polio Policy; 1975, Oak Level Baptist Church’s building dedication; 2000, Harrison Toms becomes Red Cross Chair. (PHOTO: Church Street)
August 19 through the years
1925, tent meeting on South-side; 1950, new city parking lot with 65 meters; 1975, Community Hospital Building put up for sale; 2000, out-of-wedlock births. (PHOTO: Looking down Franklin Street – Banner Warehouse and Alliance Warehouse, which burned in 1951, were where Franklin Street parking lot is now.)
August 18 through the years
1925, Mrs. J. William Jones and Mrs. J.E. Richardson win train trip to California; 1950, children overcome by gas inside a cave in Southside and saved; 1975, Clearview Baptist helps Gail Fulcher; 2000, new computer system for MHC E-911. (PHOTO: Martinsville General Hospital, 1946 to 1970; after that, a nursing home. Now the site is home to the Virginia Museum of Natural History.)
August 17 MHC through the years
1925, folks from Cambria; 1950, cement shortage; 1975, Bassett pilot walks away from crash; 2000, Heilig-Meyers closes store. (PHOTO: North Martinsville School 1935)
August 16 MHC through the years
1925, “Corduroy Robes for the Girl Who Is Going Away to School;” 1950, reserve officers report to duty in Korean War; 1975, MHC Oilers at Connie Mack World Series; 2000, City Circuit Court leads the state in technology. (PHOTO: A Martinsville City Cab in 1958 behind the Tuggle home – after the house was torn down, its lot became that small parking lot is between Globman’s and Lee Telephone)
August 15 through the years MHC
1925, new American-LaFrance fire truck; 1950, summer’s fifth case of polio; 1975, Jaycees and Jaycettes present comedy play; 2000, vehicles. (PHOTO: Home of Martha Waller Redd Clark, daughter of Major John Redd. House torn down in 1966 to make room for Martinsville Municipal Building)
August 14 through time
1925, Special Type-A Sedan comes with 5 tires; 1950, Mrs. H.S. Winn’s public flower pot; 1975, MHC Oilers go to Connie Mack Baseball World Series; 2000, Author Martin Clark’s first book. (PHOTO: 1933 view of Fieldale. Waller home is right of center between factory and Smith River.)
August 13 through the years
1925, “Exquisite Fall Millinery in Velours”; 1950, Martinsville Recreation Dept. has loads of summer programs; 1975, more city jail guards requested; 2000, Ruby Balabanis and Colleen Butker open Enchanted Garden. (PHOTO: Waller’s Ford in Fieldale)
August 12 through the years
1925, Charlie Womack’s lost dog; 1950, attention on Thomas Stanley; 1975, hospital to overhaul generators; 2000, donation in honor of Carolyn Craft. (PHOTO: A.M. Dudley’s ice house on South Bridge Street near railroad underpass, 1910)
August 11 through the years
1925, Martinsville men go to massive KKK parade in D.C.; 1950, Exchange Club visits Philpott Dam; 1975, Martinsville schools increase tuition for out-of-city students; 2000, Clearview School is year-round. (PHOTO: E.L. Williamson’s covered coal tipple on southeastern corner of Broad Street, 1906)
August 10 through the years
1925, furniture worker severely cut; 1950, polio season; 1975, Postmaster Buddy Phillips; 2000, Pulaski Furniture to close Martinsville plant. (PHOTO: unnamed child with polio)
August 9 through the years
1925, $2 ($36.55 in today’s dollars) for a year’s newspaper subscription; 1950, bid for 16 new cabins at Fairy Stone State Park; 1975, Miss MHC Deborah Ann Joyce; 2000, highway marker for Fort Trial. (PHOTO: Fuller Church parsonage 1940s)