March 11

100 Years ago – 1925

Ad: The Smart Set Minstrel performed two shows at Baldwin Theatre, “featuring the Jail House – Watch for Free Parade.” Admission was 35 cents and 50 cents, with reserved seats 25 cents extra. “Special Accommodations for White and Colored. W.H. Jones.”

75 years ago – 1950

The Southern Baptist convention was planning to build a $5 million seminary, and Martinsville was in the running, and going through a lot of effort to attract the project here. There was hope that the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund (Dr. J.P. McCabe, president) would give $1 million to attract the seminary. On this Saturday, C.V. Rogers, chairman of a special committee appointed by the Retail Merchants Association, mailed resolutions supporting the seminary being in Martinsville to Dr. Claude Bowen of Greensboro, N.C., who was in charge of finding the site.

50 years ago – 1975

A burglar was making the rounds of the Druid Hills area, stealing valuables such as jewelry, silver utensils and the family car. The neighborhood is canvassed by a person acting as a salesman or fundraiser. When residents leave, the house is ransacked quickly. Some victims included Jerry S. Chaney of 1212 Sam Lions Trail, A.F. Hooker of Mulberry Road (he lost $62,500 in silver settings) and an apartment on Corn Tassel Trail ($5,100 worth of silver). The same had been going on in Danville, Lynchburg, Staunton and Northern Virginia. Detective T.E. Ussery put out the message that neighbors should be on the lookout and should call the law if they saw anything suspicious. People planning to go out for the evening should let their neighbors know, so they could be on the lookout.

25 years ago - 2000

Gas prices were rising.  A gas station on Virginia Avenue in Ville Heights sold unleaded gas for $1.44 per gallon and higher grades $1.52.