April 13

100 Years ago – 1925

 Ad for C.W. Holt Co., Inc.: “NEW – Today-Saturday SILK ENSEMBLES of UNUSUAL CHARM $27.50. Beautiful creations of Georgette or Printed Silk Frocks with coat of same or contrasting colors in mannish effect or otherwise – GET YOUR EASTER FROCK TODAY.”

The Martinsville base-ball team won at their first game of the season, against the Norfolk and Western team of Winston-Salem, in games played at the Fair Ground. Local players, listed by last name only, were Morris, Philpott, English, Barbour, Robertson, Moore, Hurd, Reed, Whitener, Patterson, Eggleston, Andes.

75 years ago – 1950

Ad for Mitchell Motors on Main and Lester streets: “It’s MISS AMERICA for Beauty – It’s MR. BIG for size! The ’50 Ford feels and is big – most hip and shoulder room in its field. …”

50 years ago – 1975

Hairston Funeral Home’s new building at 301 Fayette St. was dedicated with an open house, which also celebrated the company’s 26th anniversary. The new building tripled the size of the funeral home. It cost $165,000 and had a chapel, three individual parlors and a smoking lounge. Reginald Hairston was the president.

25 years ago - 2000

Nylstar, a European fiber manufacturer for textiles, announced plans to open a production facility in Henry County. Nylstar’s plant was in the Martinsville Industrial Park. However, it would transfer through various owners – Bear Stearns, then J.P. Morgan. In 2009, when it had 210 employees, it was bought by Nilit of Israel.

Also, Rock-Tenn Co. Alliance Group announced that it would begin operating at the DDI plant at 500 Frith Road, making corrugated cardboard. Their announcement surprised even city officials: They announced it at a job fair, where they took in 100 applications.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.