March 17

100 Years ago – 1925

 Agents T.B. Burch Corporation held an auction of 10 residential lots on Watt Street, Martinsville’s newest development, with water, sewerage and lights. The lots adjoined the homes of C.G. Miller, T.M. Fair and others. Terms were 20% cash, with balances at 6, 12 and 24 months.

75 years ago – 1950

Six prisoners died in the Spray, N.C., jail in a fire. [Spray is present-day Eden, N.C.] One of them was Lucille Wimbush, 29, a native of Patrick County who had been living in Spray for several years. All six had been locked up the previous day on charges of public drunkenness. The jail had been divided into sections for white men, black men and women, and the dead prisoners had been lodged across all three sections. They died of suffocation from smoke from mattresses which burned in one of the cells, thought to have been from cigarettes or a fire lit by one of the prisoners who had snuck in matches.

50 years ago – 1975

City and County officials met to talk about how to consolidate services such as for the elderly, a dog pound and offices for probation personnel. No firm plans were made, but options were discussed.

25 years ago - 2000

Participants who were preparing to compete in the Miss MHC Scholarship Pageant were Jessica Baker, Lydia Brantingham, Dawn Gray, KaRenda LaPrade, Tanya Martin, Ayan Mobley, Leigh Ann Pendleton and Carrie Quinlan.