1924: Free gas every Saturday; 1949, earlier closing, high sales for Bassett; 1974, Bennett and Wilson Realtors; 1999, mentors from St. Paul High Street.

1924, Santa the cheerful messenger of Jewelry; 1949, Santa says “She’ll love this Hoover” from Troxler; 1960, arrest for shooting of police chief; 1974, SPCA got a phone and answering service; 1999, Patrick Community Hospital trying to get out of bankruptcy. (PHOTO: Norfolk and Western station 1910)

1924, KKK “gladdened the hearts of several by small gifts”; 1949, Little Homemaker toys; 1960, Friendship Christmas Tree at Bassett Community Center; 1974, Chamber of Commerce’s high school economics classes; 1999, Bank Service of Virginia to move into Beaver Creek Plantation house vacated by Pluma Inc. (PHOTO: Jobbers Pant Factory on Fayette and Market streets, founded in 1933)

1924, dentist’s specialty: nervous women and children; 1949, new Forecast trademark at Hooker; 1960, J. Clyde Hooker Jr. succeeds his father; 1974, FUMC Living Singing Christmas Tree makes do after lost stage; 1999, County’s emergency response plan for layoffs. (PHOTO: Fire at Watt Hairston building, looking downhill on Jones Street. Courthouse is at the right.)

1924, Raylass Chain store burned; 1949, city jewelers compete for Christmas shoppers with silver; 1960, mother of five killed while driving kids to school; 1974, classes at PHCC; 1999, Pokemon, Barbie and electronic games. (PHOTO: Danville & Western aka Dick & Willie train)

1924, old First Baptist Church building converted to garage; 1949, 1950 Studebaker Miracle Ride; 1974, 60 free parking spots for Christmas shoppers; 1999, The Incredible Fat Burning Cookie. (PHOTO: Fire at Watt Hairston building, looking downhill on Jones Street. Courthouse is at the right.)

1924, Rifle lost at Roundabout Club and man accused of lady’s purse; 1949, new train coaches; 1960, hoodlumism; 1974, paralyzed furniture worker awarded $1 million

1924, KKK gives money to church Girl’s Circle program at Municipal Building; 1949, navy beans removed from 2-year-old’s lung; 1960, wasted trees; 1974, larger caliber pistol for police; 1999, Ridgeway Town Council. (PHOTO: Chatmoss, home of Sam and Alcie Hairston Harden, built in 1800s and destroyed by fire in 1928. Site of current country club.)

1924, Mrs. Edwin Penn heads Christmas Seals; 1949, Lions Club gum machines bring in money'; 1960, Southern Bank of Commerce on Walnut and Main; 1974, housing sales in slump; 1999, Junior Lynch honored. (PHOTO: C.P. Kearfott Drug Store, now the orange and white building, at right and start of Public Square on left, at Main Street)

1924, Studebaker demonstrated during rain storm; 1949, horses trample Dyer’s Store farmer; 1960, more than a still a day busted; 1974, top bowlers; 1999, County buys 5 B’s building. (PHOTO” Banner Warehouse, operated by E.J. Davis, burned down in 1951 after more than 40 years service)

1924, Paris inspiration at Holt’s; 1949, 300 needy families in MHC; 1960, fire lookout towers in Mountain Valley and Chestnut Knob manned because of fire vulnerability; 1974, abrupt decline in rabbit population; 1999, hiring at Stanley.

1924, hunter bags 100 ducks and next goes for quail; 1960, houses use three times electricity due to appliances catching on; 1974, new $103K computer; 1999, help for laid off from McCabe. (PHOTO: Circus comes to town in 1920s) (PHOTO: Danville and Western aka Dick and Willie Depot at corner of Franklin and Depot Streets, torn down in late 1940s)

1924, holiday nuts; 1949, silver service at 50 cents a week; 1960, Mary Catherine Fultz in Japan; 1974, mass area layoffs; 1999, state Rapid Response Team. (PHOTO: Circus comes to town in the 1920’s)

1924, Ridgeway High School show; 1949, Optimist Club and Boy Scouts join forces; 1960, Collinsville Street Sign Committee; 1974, 1,149 acres in tobacco; 1999, Fieldcrest Cannon Factory Outlet. (PHOTO: Henry County Training School's Smith Hall with 18 rooms, from 1906-1943; started by Fayette St. Christian Church as Mts. Christian Institute)

1024, a muffler to please him; 1949, 90 cents an hour; 1974, first local jaws of life; 1999, Tultex shifts to marketing instead of making. (PHOTO: 1928 schoolhouse)

1924, Pythians plan on gifts for 1,000; 1949, first Weimaraners; 1974, EACH to help; 1999, Tultex announces 2,600 layoffs.

1924, traffic court; 1949, largest ever crowd in Public Square as Santa arrives; 1960, local women in Va. State College Symphonic Band; 1974, Beckner building demolished; 1999, house fire deaths. )PHOTO: Fire at Watt Hairston building, looking downhill on Jones Street. Courthouse is at the right.)

1924, Fire at Craig-Bassett store and tragedy at cake-cutting; 1974, Bassett-Stanleytown Professional and Businessmen’s Ass’n; 1960, 200+ local civic groups; 1974, Kmart’s Bombshells; 1999, Frank and Jeannie Draper cooking. (PHOTO: 1951 burning of Banner Warehouse, in area where Black Box Theatre is now. You can see the former county administration building, where museum annex now is)

1924, ads; 1949, new highway mail bus service; 1960, timber rustlers; 1974, DuPont lay-offs; 1999, protesting China. (PHOTO: 1941 Franklin and Main streets. Globman's Dept. Store, A and P Supermarket, Townes Building and mostly out of sight, Banner tobacco warehouse.)

1924, Piedmont Trust Bank; 1949, Montgomery Ward; 1960, pot bust in Leatherwood; 1974, Christmas Parade; 1999, Collinsville VFD. (PHOTO: 1908 Nora Weisiger, Hunter Pannill, John Hamilton, Laura and Hattie Barrett and unknown driver)