Back in Time for December 28

1923

Advertisement from The Martinsville Building and Loan Association: The Association is going to build several modern dwellings, and will be sold on the monthly payment plan. “This gives an opportunity to pay for a HOME practically with rent money.”

1948

Two Martinsville attorneys, Clarence Kearfott and W.M. Shaw, filed a suit in federal court on behalf of Alphonse Price, against two South Hill police officers, the Martinsville Bulletin reported in 1948. Price, a black man from New Jersey, was visiting Martinsville en route to Camp Lee with four other people. In South Hill, the proprietor of a colored café refused to honor his Army meal ticket. Army meal tickets must be honored in all cafes, but apparently the South Hill owner had never seen one before. The police were summoned. The other four men left, but Price was arrested, which prevented him from being able to reenlist in the army.

1973

Mason’s Department Store opened briefly on a Sunday in apparent violation of the Sunday Blue Law, but closed after a warning by Commonwealth’s Attorney Roscoe Reynolds, the Martinsville Bulletin reported in 1973.  The store was in Martinsville Plaza Shopping Center on U.S. 220. Mason’s officials were fined $50 in May 1972 for having been open Sundays in 1971 during the Christmas season.

1998

Winners of the Henry County Refuse Department and CLEAN Community Recycling Essay Contest were: LaRhonda Johnson, fourth grade, Spencer-Penn School; Pamela Gunter, seventh grade, Drewry Mason School and Chris Hinson, 11th grade, Fieldale-Collinsville High School.