Christmas Day through the years

1923

From the Supervising Game Warden J.B. Zeigler of the 5th District and County Game Warden B.M. Minter: Game killed or captured in Henry County last season: quail, 3,000; rabbits, 5,000; squirrels, 2,500; doves, 1,000. 610 hunting licenses issued; 1,701 dog tags sold.

Orchestra: The Piedmont Serenaders formed in November 1923. It has seven members who play 13 instruments: Gladys Hurd (former pianist for Hamilton Theatre) on piano; Mary Hurd, violin; Tilman Hurd, drums and trumpet; W.D. Stultz, trombone and banjo; J.L. English Jr., clarinet and saxophone; J.L. Stulz Jr., clarinet and saxophone; P.D. Smith, cornet.

1948

Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Howard of Spruce Street were the first place winners of the Junior Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas home decorating contest in 1948. They won $10. Second place, $5, went to Dr. and Mrs. John W. Clark of Starling Avenue, and third place, $3, went to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Depkin of Forest Park. Judges were from Martinsville Garden Club, Garden Club Auxiliary, Colonial Garden Club and Garden Study Club.

1973

Patrick County teenagers William Ray Pilson, 15, and Douglas Perry Hall, 16, died in a Christmas Day wreck on Route 8, 12 miles north of Stuart. The driver, Bobby Joe McPeak, 16, was injured.

Mrs. Varnie Mae Witcher of West Street and an employee of National Homes Inc. was the Progressive Charity Club’s distinguished service winner.

1998

The Sportsman Club was in its sixth year of giving out boxes of food, clothing and other items. In 1993 it gave 75 gift boxes. Members included Tom Joe Mitchell, Don Edwards, Connie Hairston, Greg Mitchell, Leroy Dillard, Oshane Tarpley and Zack Wingfield; Melvin Carter was the president that year.

The Mission Center, at 18 Cleveland Avenue, held a Christmas dinner for the community on Christmas Day. James Ayers was the manager. Stuart Axelrod was one of the founders of the dinner, but the 1998 one was his last, as he was moving to South Carolina.

2023

The area’s annual community Christmas dinner, Richard’s Dinner, serves about 2,500. Scott Norman told the Martinsville Bulletin that they use about 800 pounds each of ham and turkey, and “gallons and gallons of green beans and mashed potatoes.” Between 100 and 150 people help host the dinner, which is packed into styrofoam divided containers and delivered, or may be eaten on site, at First Baptist Church at the corner of Starling and Mulberry. The meal tradition was started by Stuart Axelrod and Wayne Odachowski in their restaurant in the Jefferson Plaza and named for helper Richard Sarver, who died in 2011.

2024

Popular Christmas decorations this year remain Modern Farmhouse style - neutrals (grey and “greige,” buffalo check, old pickup trucks with Christmas trees in the back, wooden beads, nutcrackers.

 — Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfiche at the Martinsville Branch Library.