Jan. 29 through time
1924
On Jan. 29, 1924, a front-page article in the Henry Bulletin announced that C.W. Holt & Co. is developing into into “a large department store and, for that purpose, its change of location” by March 1. It would “occupy the new Burch Building on Church Street facing Walnut, next door to Piedmont Trust Bank.” It would take up both the ground floor and the basement.
1974
The county’s three special police forces (Bassett, Stanleytown, Fieldale) were supported partially by industries and partially by the county. There had been allegations that the industries did not allow the officers to assist the county when requested to do so, so the county Board of Supervisors met to vote on the matter. It tied, so the matter holds up to 30 days for tie-breaker William F. Franck to vote. However, the board did vote to approve a study by Sheriff C.P. Witt, Commonwealth’s Attorney Roscoe Reynolds and the Henry County School Board on the feasibility of using women as school guards to free up the men deputies for other purposes.
The Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department got a new fully equipped fire truck for $29,700. The department spent about $5,000 on its building at First Street and John Redd Boulevard to accommodate it. Reggie Fulcher was the fire chief, William D. Gusler was the assistant chief and G.W. Gusler was the chairman of the truck committee.
1999
Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell announced on Jan. 29 that he would seek a third four-year term in the November general election, but when that term expires he would not run again. (Yet run again he would, in 2003, against challenger Mike McPeek; he won that race by nearly 2,000 votes – but on Nov. 2, 2006, he was arrested by the FBI in connection with an alleged racketeering conspiracy within the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. He went on unpaid administrative leave a week later, retired a week after that; and in September 2007, he was sentenced to 8 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release and a $15,000 fine for making a false statement to a federal agent.)
2024
Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited New College Institute Friday, touring the institution of higher learning and meeting with the NCI staff and board. He visited with the students and staff in programs, classes and events throughout the building.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfiche at the Martinsville Branch Library.