Oct. 27
100 Years ago – 1924
A county fair back in the old days celebrated the fruits of the farmers’ labors. People had to grow and raise and then preserve and put up their foods to last through the winter. Contests at a county fair awarded those prime examples of an immense array of categories. The 4-H program for children was strong, to teach and reward children for the farming skills they would need to keep themselves and their families fed. However, fair prizes celebrated beyond the agricultural, as evidenced by this list of categories – and the high award amount ($10 in 1924 equals about $177 today; $40 in 1924 is today’s $709): Best Mahogany Wrappers – first place, P.S. Jones, $15; second, E.R. Doyle, $10; Best Manufacturing Lugs, first place, Dover Atkins, $15; Best Display Wrappers, Fillers, Cutters and Mrgr. Lugs, first place, S.H. Eanes, $40; Best Henry Co. Cutters, First place, Geo. Wilson, $15.
75 years ago – 1949
The Martinsville Police Department were on watch for taxicab operators whose stands were outside the city limits; they had no right to be picking up fares from inside Martinsville.
J. Clyde Hooker, founder and president of Hooker-Bassett Furniture Company, was elected president of the Southern Manufacturers Association at their annual convention in Asheville, N.C.
1960
A large 800-gallon still hidden in a pine tree thicket at the rear of a house was discovered by county officers and state ABC and Federal ATTU agents was discovered in Reed Creek. A 19-year-old Martinsville man and 32-year-old Bassett man were arrested. A car had been loaded with 150 gallons of white whisky, and 3,500 gallons of mash were discovered. Officers used 20 sticks of explosives to blow up the still and supplies.
50 years ago – 1974
The race at the Martinsville Speedway was the Cardinal 500 Classic, billed as “Racing’s Wildest Double-Header!” It was 250 laps modified, 250 laps late model sportsman.
The Martinsville Corvette Club held an autocross at the K-Mart parking lot, with trophies for winners in all classes for all cars. Registration cost $3.
25 years ago - 1999
Bassett Middle School was in the beginning stages of having web pages for all of its teachers, encouraging parents to check the web pages for information on the classes. The project started with teacher training in the summer. Staff members Ron Shealer and Warren Fisher created a template for teachers to use for their web pages.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.