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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March 18 through the years
1926, “Greatest of All Lecture Series”; 1951, Harry Tuggle wins GCV Daffodil Show; 1976, 54% drop in food stamp recipients; 2001, Sitestar Internet with “First-Time User Specialists.” (PHOTO: Bassett Swinging Bridge)
March 17 through the years
1926, discoveries among debris; 1951, J.D. Hooker appointed; 1976, county landfill planning; 2001, Bulldogs state champions. (PHOTO: Claude Kirks and his son Harry Kirks, who lived in the brick house across from the Dodge Store in Bassett Forks. They are Delin Kirks' father and grandfather.)
March 16 through the years
1926, Elizabeth Marshall, Public Stenographer; 1951, more buildings for Fieldcrest; 1976, “slums are not slummy enough'“; 2001, laid-off VMNH workers return. (PHOTO: Fieldcrest Mill)
March 15 through the years
1926, Wigwam Billiard Parlor; 1926, work resumes at dam; 1951, 1,700 sign petition; 2001, MHS tests out SOLs online. (PHOTO: Church Street in the 1920s)
March 14 through the years
1926, gas tax; 1951, Whittle sworn in to Supreme Court of Appeals; 1976, Clay Earles back at track after heart attack; 2001, Clyde Williams passes away.
March 13 through the years
1926, taking liberties with the boss’s car; 1951, most lawyers to to Richmond for Whittle; 1976, state championship for Bulldogs, and local Saturday-night dances; 2001, a crackdown on dance halls.
March 12 through the years
1926, American Legion plant sale; 1951, Red Cross fundraising; 1976, Nashville Grass and Osborne Brothers in Bassett; 2001, Sunbelt Business Brokers, Mullins Custom Exhaust and a visit by Mark Warner. (PHOTO: Church Street looking west)
March 11 through the years
1926, “Pillars and Perils of Democracy”; 1951, Economy Shop'; 1976, Credit Women International; 2001, reduced hours for furniture employees. (PHOTO: Corner of Starling Avenue and Spring Street, home of Dr. Harvey Price)
March 10 through time
1926, flu epidemic; 1951, Explorer Troop and Scout Troop 75 starts at Elks Home; 1976, lecture on transcendental meditation; 2001, census. (PHOTO: Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Brewers Picnic Tavern 1 mile south of Martinsville on Highway 220)
March 9 through the years
1926, KKK meeting; 1951, stolen funeral sign'; 1976, Kroger construction; 2001, Piedmont Arts workshop. (PHOTO: Old Kroger, next to the Rives Theatre)
March 8 through the years
1926, local store credit system; 1951, Al Waleski replaced by Tom Burnette and W.K. Putney; 1976, Bill Prillaman’s Snow Creek Airport; 2001, staff awards for Tultex coverage. (PHOTO: 1941 Franklin and Main streets. Globman's Dept. Store, A and P Supermarket, Townes Building and mostly out of sight, Banner tobacco warehouse)
March 7 through the years
1926, Thomas Jefferson Hotel plans revealed; 1951, MHC Career Day; 1976, 4-foot-long striped bass for Jerry Rosenbaum; 2001, Moorefield’s Cleaners. (PHOTO: Hotel Jefferson)
March 6 through the century
1926, Patrick County apples; 1951, half the women asked agreed to serve on jury; 1976, big win for Bulldogs; 2001, MS Walk. (PHOTO: Chatmoss plantation home entrance hall. House burned in 1928.)
March 5 through the years
1926, apple growers’ trip; 1951, hot-wired and stolen; 1976, City Council candidates; 2001, pageant winners Devon Robinson, Amanda Herndon, Indya Penn and Lauren Martin. (PHOTO: Presbyterian Church on Church Street facing Broad Street)
March 4 through the years
1926, death at factory'; 1951, booklets on atomic war dropped from airplane; 1976, disco; 2001, Commonwealth Centre. PHOTO: Rives Theatre
March 3 through the years
1926, remains of Hamilton Hotel; 1951, Boy Scouts; 1976, controversial county administrator resigns; 2001, Patrick Community Hospital plan approved. (PHOTO: The Tuggle home on Church Street in 1960, between Globmans and Lee Telephone, about to be demolished. It now is a parking lot..)
March 2 through the years
1926, Virginia Historic Highway; 1951, Elks Club dinner-dance; 1976, drug bust; 2001, polygraph tests in murder of Lisa Thomas.
March 1 through the years
1926, arrested for cussing out the operator; 1951, shortages; 1976, Virginia Windle’s historical clothing; 2001, new economic development organization. (PHOTO: Fire at Watt Hairston building, looking downhill on Jones Street. Courthouse is at the right)
Fourth Week of February, 1926, 1951, 1976, 2001
Rabies epidemic; Gravely Furniture Co. begins; excitement over school cafeteria; Men regularly drafted into the Korean War; city bus service; county administrator’s wife strikes back. (PHOTO: Starling Avenue Baptist Church and the barber shop which used to be beside it)
Third Week of February, 1926, 1951, 1976, 2001
2-Day Farmers Institute in Axton; Civilian Defense Corps (during the Red Scare) to grow; hostages in 2001 store hold-up; Jaycees’ Brotherhood Week; petition for investigation of county administrator; Dale Earnhardt’s death. PHOTO: Floyd’s Cash Store on Cleveland Avenue