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)

1925, highest MHS enrollment ever at 125; 1950, “Employment of the Physically Handicapped Week”; 1975, the Clarks of Critz after the owner of destructive goat; 2000, Dr. Berry moves office. (PHOTO: the old Ellsworth Street Baptist Church. On Oct. 1, 1950, the congregation left that building - shown in 1950 and again now - to form Central Baptist Church on Church Street, where Soul Winners Ministry is now.)

1925, school bus requested for Irisburg; 1950, 250,000 pounds of tobacco sold; 1975, Fitchue Hopper’s tall sunflower; 2000, Speed Fest. PHOTO: 1905 view of courthouse from Bridge and Church streets.

1925, more than a ton of chestnuts shipped each day out of Patrick Co.; 1950, United Nations flag arrives; 1975, house for $20 down and $60 monthly or trailer for $972 down and $99 monthly; 2000, “Dinosaurs!” exhibit at VMNH. PHOTO: 1926 at front of Henry Courthouse

1925, Poultry Culling Campaign; 1950, naming of Memorial Boulevard; 1975, solar panel for Greyson Street house; 2000, Health Connections on PBS. PHOTO: 1898 Choral Club gives Old Folks Concert.

1925, Controllable Beam on the Better Buick makes night driving safe; 1950, State Milk Commission rules on Martinsville prices; 1975, early computers at JCPenney, Southwestern Gas, Centel and Virginia Nat’l Bank; 2000, 50 jobs cut at Bassett. PHOTO: 1951 burning of Banner Warehouse, in area where Black Box Theatre is now. You can see the former county administration building, where museum annex now is.

1925, “The Magic of Electricity!”; 1950, one-way streets funded; 1975, Solid Waste Committee; 2000, Lisa Thomas shot to death in DeMarco’s Clothing. PHOTO: Pythian Building in early 1940s, with Williams Store.

1925, Dr. G.B. Dudley in the Burch Building; 1950, Bronze Star Medal for PFC Leo Dooley; 1975, candidate says using work mail for campaign was perk of the job; 2000, Kim Powell and Phillip Taylor win sonic competitions.

PHOTO: Two women in front of Hotel Stevens

1925, Bibles for sale; 1950, bank deposits insured; 1975, Martinsville Cablevision; 2000, Tupperware honors Colene Fackler and Avis Turner. PHOTO: First Presbyterian adds steeple in 1959.

1925, Room for rent on Cleveland Avenue; 1950, Axton Community Fair; 1975, 7-day work weeks at Fieldcrest Mills; 2000, 6 teenagers pass EMT course. PHOTO: Hotel Henry, home to many a traveling salesman.

1925, Ladies Auxiliary Street Ball on Walnut Street; 1950, 15 men report to draft offices; 1975, 15 orchards offer you-pick apples; 2000, new logo for City police cars.

PHOTO: 1920s Roxy Theatre on Church Street)

1925, Llewellin Setters; 1950, adult education classes at MHS; 1975, Martinsville drummer Johnny Bryant tours with Ray Charles; 2000, 7 MHS students suspended.

1925, first City Directory; 1950, bids for new school in Collinsville; 1975, teenager John Wheeler shot; 2000, Mignon Grant’s salon opens. PHOTO: 1938, Chief Tassel Building and Gulf Service Station on Church Street.

1925, school supplies advertised included rulers, compasses, fountain pens and drinking cups;1950, men leave for army training; 1975, Beverly Lester’s dog wins; 2000, Rev. Susanne Schulz Martin. PHOTO: Unknown man in downtown Martinsville.

1925, orthopedic clinic for indigent crippled children; 1950, new financing rules; 1975, Crystal Gravely goes to work for the hospital; 2000, Habitat’s 16th house. PHOTO: Crews arriving to work on Fairy Stone State Park.

1925, six orchards with 80,000 trees for sale; 1950, young mother shot; 1975, new place for DMV; 2000, family photographs at Starling Pharmacy. PHOTO: Henry County Courthouse, between 1906 (when the iron stairs were built - they used to be wooden) and 1929 (when the wings were added, giving stairs indoors instead of outdoors).

1925, the Methodists’ fashion show at the Hamilton, and American Legion Ladies’ dance on Walnut Street; 1950, new curtain styles at Globman’s, some which did not survive the test of time; 2000, Smith River Community Bank at Patrick Henry Mall. PHOTO: Henry County Courthouse, now home to the MHC Heritage Museum. PHOTO: The Window Frill sold by Globman’s in 1950.

1925, BPW meet at Henry Hotel; 1950, 98 Henry County men sent to draft center; 1975, Consolidated District Home was a replacement for the former poorhouses; 2000, Sen. Roscoe Reynolds speaks to Denise Morrison’s students. PHOTO: The old Leggets Store.

1925, J.D. Bassett accepts Republican nomination; 1950, tobacco sales open; 1975, new Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church’s 11th anniversary; 2000, C.W. Holt closes. PHOTO: Telephone pole installer Tuck Fontaine on top of a telephone pole in 1903. The Setback Building, home to the law offices of Gravely and Carter and dentist C.T. Womack, is at right.

1925, All ministers agree to “Dollar Sunday”; 1950, 50 City men report to Draft Board; 1975, 94-year-old Jim Lamkin still demolishing buildings; 2000, Bassett Kiwanis support SAVE. PHOTO: Post Office on Church Street, with a clock and a newsstand at the corner opposite, in 1953.