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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May 16
1924, Mulberry Street gets its start; 1949, cows die across county; 1960, hepatitis outbreak; 1974, 420 tour iris gardens of the Arthur Davises in Oak Level; 1999, Fieldcrest Lodge neighbors protest property proposal. (PHOTO: Ad for J.B. Lavinder’s store in Martinsville, Aug. 21, 1885, Martinsville Herald)
May 15
1924, husband charged in Fontaine murder; 1949, Rajah Temple Dokkies meeting and dance in Martinsville; 1960, Patricia Stillwell and Irene Hedgecock win; 1974, Stella Spencer’s beauty pageant; 1999, Pluma announces bankruptcy. (PHOTO: Former Martinsville General Hospital, where Virginia Museum of Natural History is now.)
May 14
1924, Methodists beat Baptists in spelling bee at tobacco warehouse; 1949, open house for water filtration plant; 1960, eight local movie theaters; laundry truck stolen; 1974, Posey Mize Motor Co. (PHOTO: Farmers Warehouse where the spelling bee was held. It’s the large building on Brookdale, with the car on the roof.)
May 13
1924, unprecedented amount of new construction in Martinsville; 1949, NAACP announces it would get involved in the Martinsville Seven case; 1960, Patrick County raised half the $300,000 needed to build hospital; 1974, 900 attend meeting on controversial Henry Co. subdivision ordinance; 1999, brush cleared from Korean Memorial at the road named for it. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture, 1921)
May 12
1924, Nancy Gravely Eggleston of Fontaine murdered; 1949, Frith brothers of service station convicted on liquor charges; 1960, runaway pig; 1974, modern Wurlitzer Electronic Funmaker Spinet Organs at Leed’s Music Center; 1999, City donates fire truck to new Henry VFD. (PHOTO: Dr. Dana Baldwin’s Sandy Beach Resort)
May 11
1924, KKK makes dramatic gesture at revival meeting, and preacher accepts; also, D&W Railway Co. decides to do away with stations at Aiken Summitt, Preston and Stella; 1949, tobacco damage; 1960, new golf course at Forest Park; 1974, US 220-58 bypass under construction; 1999, Career Day at Figsboro Elementary. (PHOTO: Henry Hotel, 1921 Henry Bulletin)
May 10
1924, Henry County native candidate for Indiana Congress; 1949, state science honors for two MHS seniors; 1960, Comet for $2,095 in Bassett; 1974, Julia Harrell rode unicycle to Druid Hills Elementary; 1999, new pitching machine for Fieldale Community Center. (PHOTO: John R. Smith home, 1921 Henry Bulletin)
May 9
1924, blue mold ruined early plantings of tobacco; 1949, Martinsville Wholesale Grocery Co. incorporated; 1960, May Day program at Irisburg Elementary; 200 Kiwanians at banquet; 1974, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; 1999, Hooker Field gets blend of synthetic & natural. (PHOTO: Lester Lumber Company)
May 8
1924, legal battle over Hairston estate and hospital site; 1949, “Mr. Moth Rest in Peace;” 1960, Patrick County plans to raise $300,000 for new hospital; 1974, chain letters; 1999, “Operation Lightning Strike” in Franklin County. (PHOTO: Secretaries banquet, April 28, 1974, Martinsville Bulletin)
May 7
1924, naming contest for confectionery; 1949, 1,500 attend Kiwanis’ quiz program; 1960, Boy Scout Council aims to enlarge Camp Powhatan; 1974, City Council shake-up ends Francis West’s political career; 1999, new surveillance cameras for Henry County buses and school hallways. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture Co., 1921 Martinsville Bulletin)
May 6
1924, Garden Club’s flower sale; 1949, demonstration on Walter Collins’ Axton farm, and prohibition agent arraigned; 1960, major trip for Boy Scouts; 1974, Col. Richard Prillaman nominated by President Nixon; 1999, Horsepasture Volunteer Rescue Squad expands. (PHOTO: First Baptist Church on Broad and Church Streets)
May 4
1923, 768 motor- and horse-drawn school buses in Virginia; 1949, Hampton, Hairston and Miller [Martinsville Seven] sentenced to electrocution; 1960, MHS student Ed Colston prodces 200 proof alcohol in experiment; 1974, Flower View and Dogwood garden clubs; 1999, Bassett-Walker closes Kingston plant. (PHOTO: MHS bed-pushers, led by Danny Turner)
May 2
1924, two mules and wagon carrying whisky seized; 1949, Taylor and Hairston tried together [Martinsville Seven]; MHS Band left for Apple Blossom Festival Parade; Harry C. Gravely II, paralyzed, sues owners of The Homestead; 1999, in aftermath of Columbine shootings, school systems were just starting with school resource officers. (PHOTO: March against the proposed subdivision ordinance, which was approved at the end of May, with 23 changes from its original version.)
April 30
1924, Mildred Lee Chapter UDC serves dinner to Stuart Hairston Camp of Confederate veterans; 1949, Smith River rising in rains; 1960, Esso Standard Division entertains garden clubs; 1974, People’s Drug Store, Patrick Henry Mall. (PHOTO: T.N. Barbour house in 1921; now it is the Parrish House.)
April 29
1924, Keartott & Sons “secured the agency for … Whitman’s chocolate”; 1949, Carnegie Hero award for George A. Clark; 1960, Sheriff Morton T. Prillaman cautions Go-Kart drivers; 1974, 400 to 500 march in protest in front of courthouse. (PHOTO: Dr. Morton Hundley and his first wife, Lucy Gaines Brown, who died; he then married Mary Kate Black, and he died on their honeymoon. This collage is part of a collection recently lent to the museum by Doug Stegall.)