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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Dec. 17
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)
Dec. 16
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)
Dec. 15
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.)
Dec. 13
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.)
Dec. 11
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.)
Dec. 10
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)
Dec. 9
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)
Dec. 7
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)
Dec. 5
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)
Dec. 3 through time
1924, Pythians plan on gifts for 1,000; 1949, first Weimaraners; 1974, EACH to help; 1999, Tultex announces 2,600 layoffs.
Dec. 2 through time
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.)
Dec. 1 through time
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)
Nov. 30 through time
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.)
Nov. 29 through the years
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)