Dec. 5
100 Years ago – 1924
The students of Ridgeway High School gave an entertainment program of songs, recitations, dramas and pantomimes. Admission was 25 and 15 cents, with proceeds to benefit the school laboratory.
The Episcopal Bazar, hosted by the ladies of the church, was held at the Central Drug Store. For sale were handmade articles, artistic novelties, useful aprons and plenty of good food. The women raised $600.
75 years ago – 1949
The Optimist Club and Boy Scouts helped the City and County Welfare departments to collect clothing and food to distribute to the needy of Henry County. They manned booths at Mick or Mack on the Southside, the A & P, George’s Supermarket, Bibee’s and the Church Street Kroger. People also could call the City Welfare department at 3159, through Dec. 19, for a messenger to come pick up their donations. All donations would be stored in the Board of Supervisors’ office in the courthouse until they would be distributed at Christmas to several hundred needy families.
National polio expert Dr. Harry M. Weaver gave a presentation to the general public at night at Martinsville High School, sponsored by Pannill Post of the American Legion.
1960
The Collinsville Street Sign Project committee met at the town firehouse. They made plans for the circulation of petitions asking for street lights which would be installed by Appalachian Power and paid for by each homeowner at a cost between 30 and 50 cents a month. Also, 1,500 residences in Collinsville were about to receive assigned house numbers in a movement aiming to get the post office to make foot delivery to doors instead of using rural mail boxes for that area.
50 years ago – 1974
There were 2,000 flue-cured tobacco farmers in Frankin, Henry and Patrick Counties. Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz announced 15% increases in the national marketing quota and the national acreage allotment. That could raise the amount of tobacco that could be grown in the three-county area from 10.170.000 in 1974 to 11,700,000 in 1975, with the number of acres to be planted to go up to 6,900, up from the 6,000 acres in 1974. In 1974 Henry County had 1,149 acres in tobacco; Franklin had 2,348; and Patrick had 2,041.
25 years ago - 1999
At the Fieldcrest Cannon Factory Outlet in Eden, you could get a gift-boxed towel set (1 bath, one hand and one washcloth) for $8.99; bed pillows for $3.99; bath rugs for lids, $1, contours $2.50, and floor, from $4 to $7.50; bath towels for $3.69; hand towels for $1.69; washcloths for 67 cents; bath mats for $3.69; and bath sheets for $6.99.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.