Dec. 14
100 Years ago – 1924
The building of the Raylass Chain store in the downtown district burned, starting at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday and continuing until 4 a.m. Monday morning. “Just when flames were well under control,” the Henry Bulletin reported on Dec. 16, “the booster pump located on Church and Starling Ave., caught fire from friction lessening the water pressure and permitting the flames to enter the adjoining building occupied by the Southern Jobbing House. Both buildings were gutted, entailing a large loss, in spite of the heroic efforts of the local firemen. … Special mention should be made of Mrs. Morris Prager, who duringthe whole of the night kept the water soaked firemen supplied with hot coffee.” Also destroyed in the fire were the rooms rented above Ralyass: occupied by Hon. W.H. Gravely, attorney, and B.S. Parrish, resident state road engineer, as offices, as well by C.E. VanPelt as lodging and music rooms.
Ad for Martinsville’s new music store, Coleman-Bryan Music Co,, next door to the Hamilton Theatre: “Say It With Music – Gifts That Never Die – Hallet & Davis – Jesse French – Starr – Pianos and Players – Edison and Mastercraft Phonographs & Records – Saxophones, Trombones, Cornets – Gibson stringed instruments – Sheet Music and Small Music Goods – Ware Neutrodynes and Other Radios. Buy Your Music Needs From Us.”
75 years ago – 1949
Area jewelers were competing in silver sales for Christmas shoppers. Byrd’s Jewelers advertised: a 5-piece sterling silver tea set, $300; sterling silver goblet, $15; sterling silver watcher pitcher, $65; sterling silver ice tea tumbler, $15; sterling silver candlestick, $65; sterling silver sherbert bowl, $10 and sterling silver bread plate, $6.50. “Budget accounts invited,” their ad promised, and “Use our layaway.”
1960
A mother of five was killed in a car wreck when she was driving her children to school, but her children escaped injury. Mrs. Curtis Byrd, a 36-year-old nurse’s aide, lost control of the car on Route 629 in the Moore’s Mill community 4 miles south of Route 58. Leon, 16, and Cecil, 17, were students of Drewry Mason High School; Sharoon, 8, Danny, 11, and Walton, 10, attended Spencer Penn Elementary School. Their father was an employee of W.A. Brinegar, which operated a saw mill in the Moore’s Mill community.
50 years ago – 1974
Classes offered at Patrick Henry Community College: “Living Religions, East and West”; nurses aides, quick knitting, beginner flatfoot dancing, art for children.
25 years ago - 1999
The top requested Christmas gifts of 1999 were Pokemon, Barbie dolls and electronic games. At JC Penney, all of the Barbie dolls completely sold out.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.