Looking back on Dec. 23

1923

The Christmas Seal Sale went on to support sending patients to tuberculosis sanitoriums and help keep a Public Health Nurse. In 1922 the per capita sale in Virginia municipalities ranged from .0016 to .1334; the Henry County sale per person was .0109.

At Banner Warehouse, tobacco was selling for between 30 and 49 cents a load.

1948

Martinsville postal receipts for November totaled $13,047.56, a 30% increase over October. Gross revenue for the year already had surpassed that of 1947, which was $121,243.98.

American Furniture Co. directors and officers in 1948: R.M. Simmons president, O.D. Ford first vice president. Officers: T.N. Barbour, F.V. Woodson, R.E. Light.

1973

Four houses on Oak Street were condemned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Martinsville Bulletin reported on Dec. 23. The houses had been built by builder and insurance agent I.E. (Ike) Cahill and sold in 1970 for $15,000 to $16,000 each under a federal subsidy program. Though the houses during construction were inspected by the City building official, James B. Jones Jr., and Thomas Burch, a VA inspector, HUD claimed the lots on which they were built had deficiencies. William T. Prevette bought the houses to tear them down and move them.

1998

Marvin E. Kendall, 70, of Chatham Road died Dec. 23 when a piece of lumber ejected from his saw mill struck him in the head.

With information from museum records and the Henry/Martinsville Bulletin.