Oct. 23
100 Years ago – 1924
Apparently, when people died, it was not uncommon for organizations or people they associated with to pass, then publish, resolutions. Here is one: “Whereas, our Heavenly Father in his great mercy and wisdom has called from our midst our dear sister Mrs. J.H. Dyer; First: Be it resolved by our Young People’s Missionary Society that we have lost a faithful member and though we feel keenly our great loss, we prayerfully bow in humble submission to the will of our Father who doeth all things well; Second: That we extend to her family our prayers and deepest sympathy in this their hour of sorrow; Third: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to The Methodist, a copy printed in The Bulletin, a copy mailed to the devoted family, and a copy spread on the minutes of this organization.” Signed by Mrs. J.P. Wiliams, Mrs. Brumfield Read and Mrs. Kathleen Teague, Committee. A longer Resolution of Respect appeared on the same newspaper page, this one starting out “Whereas God, in his infinite Wisdom, has seen fit to remove from our midst our sister and co-worker, in the Aid Society of the M.E. Church South at Martinsville, Va., Mrs. Julia Williamson Dyer …” Signed by Mrs. John R. Aaron and Mrs. J.H. Simmons, Committee.
75 years ago – 1949
The Henry Conty Board of Supervisors talked about getting two-way radios for the sheriff’s office, but did not take any action on it. The cost of a radio station and two-way sets on three cars would be $2,265, and maintenance would cost $46 per month.
1960
The cool weather of October sent a Bassett man back to prison – voluntarily. The man had escaped from Camp 26 at Haymarket, near Washington, on Oct. 11, along with another man. They walked off from a work detail. The Bassett man went to the Henry County Sheriff’s office and told officers about his escape, and that he just had arrived back in his home area, but it was too cold and he was tired of running. He was brought back to Haymarket, where he had been serving 3 years on two counts of breaking and entering and one count of probation violation.
50 years ago – 1974
There was a nationwide shortage of rifles, shotguns and ammunition. Robert Hill, the manager of Bryant’s Sporting Goods, said he had 3,000 pistols on back order, in some cases for as long as 2 years. Charles D. Purcell, the vice president of Hardware Supply Co., said his store booked orders early so they didn’t have any trouble. Bill Allen of Lee’s Sporting Goods in Collinsville said the difficulty was in getting Browning and Ithica brands.
25 years ago - 1999
Gospel Fest ’99 at Mount Olivet Holiness Church on Cabell Street featured New Creation, The Pilgrim Scavengers, Sister Georgia Ramey and choirs from Mount Olivet and Galilee and Macedonia Baptist churches.
Bishop Robert L. Kellam led more than 100 people in an anti-drug march from Liberty Fair Mall up Market Street, onto Church Street and ending at the Martinsville Municipal Building. Speeches, singing and other anti-drug activities were held there.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.