Your connection to the past and the building blocks of our community’s future …
The Christmas Music Program scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m., has been postponed to Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m., due to snow falling on Jan. 3. (This update made as of 2 p.m. Jan. 3)
Have fun in the snow, and come back to see us next week!
NEWS
NEWS
Each day, the MHC Historical Society brings you something new: an account of what happened that day in time 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, and as a bonus, also 1960.
Both the Martinsville Tribune and the Martinsville Bulletin described the incidences which integrated the city’s lunch counters at Eagle’s and Woolworth’s variety stores and Fagg’s and Wampler’s drug stores as peaceful and pre-planned.
Filling the annex
The top (main) floor of the annex is nearly completely set up with displays. The treasures include firearms, Native American artifacts, ivory carvings, fancy and defense canes, a gambling parlor, Remington statues, antique toys and George Catlin lithographs. Above, Steve Keyser (from left), Jack Stewart and Dr. Mervyn King hang shelves.
The antiques and new part of the museum are generously donated by Dr. and Mrs. Mervyn and Virginia King. It is the privilege and the responsibility of the MHC Historical Society to operate that museum and ensure its success. The Historical Society adds deeper levels of membership to reflect the benefits of the expanded and to help support it.
MHC Heritage Museum
1 East Main Street (former Henry County courthouse); open from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays with a docent to provide tours; also usually staffed 9-5 weekdays with visitors welcome. Contact 276-403-5361 or mhchistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
13,000-square-foot annex
Displays of rare, valuable and interesting antiques are being set up in the 13,000-square-foot annex behind the courthouse. They come from Dr. Mervyn King’s significant collections of antique firearms, Native American artifacts, steam engines, Marklin and other toys, toy trains and more.
Facility
The courthouse was built in 1824, significantly expanded in 1929 and retired from county use in 1996, when the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society was formed to preserve it. The stately structure is available for rent for weddings, meetings, reunions, shows and more.
Events
The MHC Historical Society offers free programs throughout the year.
Our popular Christmas Music Program will be held on Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m.
Founders’ Day, which each year celebrates an aspect of the foundation of Martinsville and Henry County, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 3 p.m. The focus will be on the civic organizations and clubs which have made our community vibrant.
“I know of no way of judging the future than by the past.”
— Patrick Henry (1736-1799); Founding Father, Virginia Governor and Henry County planter