Nov. 29 through the years
100 Years ago – 1924
The 1925 Christmas Club opened at Piedmont Trust Bank, an easy, convenient and pleasant way of accumulating money for Christmas. The plan is very popular because it enables those of small means, those in moderate circumstances and also business men and women, to lay aside money by making systematic deposits each week.” The 25-cent club pays $12.50; 50-cent club pays $25 … $10-club pays $500; $20cclub pays $1,000.” This was over a 50-week period. The ad noted that 4% was paid on X’mas Savings Accounts.
75 years ago – 1949
Montgomery Ward ad for Christmas gifts: “Gift Robes for every name on your list! Give her a flattering robe from our wide selection. Quilted rayon satin, $7.98; pin-point chenille, $4.98; boys’ plaid robe, $4.79; girls’ chenilles (Copen, Aqua, Mellon Rose!) $3.98; Men’s luxury rayon gift robe, $8.95; Man’s 100” wool Parker Wilder Wrap-around, $8.95.
1960
Between $25,000 and $30,000 worth of marijuana was seized in a pine thicket on a Leatherwood farm, abut a mile off Route 57, 6 miles east of Martinsville. Sixteen ½ gallon fruit jars with marijuana were discovered after an extensive search of the farm. They were found covered by burlap sacks and cardboard about a half a mile from the nearest farmhouse. It was described as the largest confiscation of narcotics on record in the area and the first raid of any size since 1956.
Another letter to Santa: “My name is Tony and I have been a very good boy this year. For Christmas I would like for you to bring me a toy bear, a play rifle, some Lincoln logs, a dump truck, and a service station. I may be in Princeton with my grandmother and Pop and Mama, but you can bring my toys to Owens Road and we will be back the day after Christmas. To get them. Love, Tony Barbery, Martinsville.”
50 years ago – 1974
The annual Christmas parade started at 2 p.m. and had 89 entries, making it a smaller parade than the year before with 110. It started at the Liberty Heights Fairgrounds.
25 years ago - 1999
Construction had begun on a branch of the Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department at the Beaver Creek at Patriot Centre Industrial Park.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.