January 2

1924

By E.G. Saunders, L.H.D.A.: Nine girls and one boy (William Simmons) of the West Martinsville Club sang plantation melodies for the Emancipation Celebration Jan. 1, 1924, at High Street Baptist Church. Three clubs agreed to have old-fashioned candy parties: Preston, Ridgeway and Chestnut Knob. … “We hope that all club members will take up the 5 H’s for 1924 with double interest.”

On Jan. 2, 1924, a 40-year-old old leaf tobacco factory on Lester street, across from the Danville & Western railroad, burned down. It had been built by the late Henry C. Lester and in 1924 was owned by his nephew, R.S. Brown. Its value was estimated at $200. The owner had cancelled insurance on it the previous spring because he was planning to raze it. A neighboring storage warehouse owned by R.S. Brown and used by A.L. Tuggle caught fire too, but that fire was put out.

1949

Ad: Carter’s Frozen Foods Inc., Roanoke Highway between Collinsville and Martinsville: “Bring Us Your Whole Hog for Processing. Kill your hog any day of the year except Sunday. We will: Chill body heat out of carcass; cut your hog up; cure ham, shoulders and bacon; render your lard; grind and season your sausage; wrap in family size packages; quick freeze fresh meat – put in your locker. Cost only 5 cents per pound dressed weight of hog.”

1974

Food prices locally rose 5.6% from July to December, the Martinsville Bulletin reported on July 2, 1974, but 13% nationwide.

Congress had voted to return to daylight saving time returning “at 2 p.m. Sunday,” the Martinsville Bulletin reported on July 1, 1974, as a measure to save energy. Two local school systems decided to operate on “sun” time so students don’t have to leave for school in the dark. In Franklin County, school runs from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m, and on March 16, the schedule would revert back to 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. In Patrick County, schools would run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of March. The Henry County system was planning to meet to discuss it.

1999

The owner of the Virginia Home in Fieldale has leased the former boarding house and restaurant to Eastern Shepherd Drug Rehabilitation Center Inc., of which Virginia Barker was the president, the Bulletin reported. The corporation bought the building in April 1993 for $30,000, but there were problems with zoning and neighborhood opposition, the Bulletin reported on Dec. 29. So the center was leased in November to New Life Worship Center of 116 Ellsworth St., to fix food boxes for the needy.