From 1922 to 1983, the local Knights of Pythias hosted a community Christmas tree and gave away gifts to more than 1,000 children on Christmas Day. Local merchants, especially Globman’s and Martinsville Produce, gave the Pythians everything they had left over after Christmas Eve, to give those children.

In October 1949, Lucy Manns, a black woman from Martinsville, sat near the front of the bus and refused to move to the back. Who was this Lucy Manns? Did you know her? Did you or your family know about her?

Polio always was around in MHC, but it really hit strong starting in 1949. (PHOTO: National Archives at College Park)

Lunch counter integration in Martinsville began with a planned sit-in of Fagg’s, Wampler’s, Eagle’s and Woolworth’s on Aug. 8, 1961.

The story of the tobacco warehouse bell and the mule who didn’t know the difference between revenuers and dinnertime.

Aurora, also known as the “Pink House,” is a favorite site in Patrick County, close to Spencer. Aurora is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register (1990) and the National Registry of Historic Places (1991).

Martinsville is the world leader in window film, and it all started in 1960 with Julius Hermes and Martin Processing, now Eastman.

The leaders of the colonies of Virginia and North Carolina decided the necessity for a dividing line. Frequent conflicts arose concerning the location of the line, settlers were procuring grants from the North Carolina proprietors, and both sides made grants for the same tracts of land.

This area has a rich history. It was a stop along the Great Road, through which thousands of immigrants traveled. It was the home of Patrick Henry and home to the largest landowner in Virginia at one time. That would be George Hairston, who owned 280,000 acres at one point.

The Phospholithia Hotel in Ridgeway was near the Phospho-Lithia Springs and sat on 100 acres. It was built from 1897-99 by E.H. Hayes. The hotel charged $15 for a one-week stay and promised guests chicken three times a day. The spring water was recommended by doctors, including Dr. J. Beverly DShazo.

Cartology specialist Zack Fleming give a history of the maps that defined Virginia and the colonies - first of Peter Jefferson, then his famous Founding Father son, Thomas Jefferson — including an early look at MHC, when Chestnut Knob was called Wart Mountain

The old Henry County Courthouse held secrets not only within its walls but underneath it as well. That includes a tunnel and two underground chambers.

By 1927 Martinsville had 25 Jewish people, who formed the core group that built the synagogue

He was the sort of figure out of which border heroes are made.

Major Brice traveled on many frontier expeditions with his brother, General Joseph, and General Joseph’s son Colonel William L. Martin for most of thirteen years.

The two kids grew up in the store where Masha and Abe worked side by side from 8 a.m. to dark during weekdays and to midnight on Saturdays.

He bought property in Irisburg and built a home, a wing of which was used as a hospital from 1895 to 1899.
In 1921, Dr. Shackelford purchased the Teague residence on Church Street and created a hospital there.

Dr. John Shackelford: “Practicing medicine wasn’t easy 33 years ago. I used to operate at night on a kitchen table by candlelight. There had to be someone standing by fighting off the flies.”