1924, award offered for missing mule; 1949, electrical storm wreaks havoc; 1960, beauty pageant; 1974, help wanted ads specified age, gender; 1999, playground equipment dedicated to the late Archie Vipperman. (PHOTO: Billy Roger “Cowboy” Penn riding his horse in Bassett)

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)

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.)

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.)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

1924, Flower Show in Martinsville; 1949, N&W Railway Co. to discontinue two trains, and Exposition Queen Anita Arnold; 1960, liquor round-up; 1974, phone books and paper drives; 1999, Star Wars toys flop. (PHOTO: Pannill home on Starling Avenue, 1921 Martinsville Bulletin)

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)

1924, county allowances; 1949, Grayson, Taylor, Luther and Hairston scheduled for execution; 1960, Marshall Pinkard, 10, catches 10.5-pound bass; 1974, Artmobile; 1999, Randy Smith names to Va. Charitable Gaming Commission. (PHOTO: Front page of May 3, 1949 Martinsville Bulletin)

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.)

1924, support for crippled children; 1949, dead ‘possum makes the news; 1960, sodas in vending machines go up to 10 cents; 1999, 400 raise $27,000. (PHOTO: April 28, 1974, Martinsville Bulletin)

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.)

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.)

1924, seeds and onion sets at J.W. Booker & Co.; 1949, fifth trial of Martinsville Seven case - Francis DeSales Grayson; 1960, 19 Koehler residents petition to control junk yards; 1974, Barbara Prillaman was Secretary of the Year, and Wiliam Franck was Boss of the Year. (PHOTO: Dr. M.E. Hundley, part of a collection lent to the museum on April 25 by Doug Stegall)