Sept. 7
100 Years ago – 1924
Appliances costs (sales prices), from ad for Pool Hardware & Furniture Company on Sutherlin Block: Refrigerators (not the electric kind, just the insulated kind in which people would put a block of ice): Porcelain -lined, $55 to $49; White Enameled, $43 to $35 / Ranges, $85 to $40; Nesco Oil Stove, $37.50; Cook Stove, $28’ Allens Parlor Furnace, $65 / Acme Paint, $3.15 to $2.70 per gallon; Varnish, $4.05 per gallon; Linseed Oil, $1.10 per gallon / White Cabinets, $47.50 to $37.70; Kitchen Porcelain Top Table, $7.75 Oak Table, $7.20 / 4-Piece Mahogany Bedroom Suite, $152; 3-Piece Ivory Suite, $99; Dresser, $28; Chiffonier, $21; Wash Stand, $9 / Living Room Suite, $119; 3-Piece Fiber Suite, $44; Willow Suite, $31.
75 years ago – 1949
Elsie Millner, 21, wife of Jesse D. Millner of Old Danville Highway, was confirmed to be Martinsville’s fourth case of infantile paralysis (polio). Her throat was afflicted, and she could not talk.
1960
You know that silver-plated gravy boat which sits upon a little scoop-sided fitted tray it seems every middle-aged woman got from a woman in her family years ago? The Jewel Box at 34 E. Church St. advertised it for sale at $5.88, or 50 cents a week, on sale. It is in the Gadroon pattern. “Choose it as a gift or because it’s just what you’ve always wanted! It’s a remarkable VALUE!” Quinton Jackson was the manager.
50 years ago – 1974
Martinsville architect Conrad Knight was selected to draw up the plans for a new high school in Bassett. However, the land for the school had not yet been purchased.
25 years ago - 1999
The Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department marked its 50th anniversary and was planning to hold a golden anniversary celebration later in October at the National Guard Armory, for all present and former city firefighters.
Both voluntary and mandatory water restrictions for residents served by the Marrowbone Water Plant in Ridgeway were lifted by Public Service Authority following plenty of recent rainfall, including 3 inches of rain the previous weekend, and more rain on Aug. 19 and 26.
Tultex Corp., under new CEO Randy Rollins, held a pep rally as Rollins outlined how “Team Tultex” would succeed. Employees chanted “Let’s get it done.” The plan included: sell, ship and deliver $243 million in products; cut inventories by $75 million to $147 million; improve products, delivery and decorative logos or graphics or however the customer wants his order; operate united as one company, not as five.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.