March 20

100 Years ago – 1925

Corsets, which used to be heavily advertised, had fallen out of fashion, and for a year or two there were no ads on body shaping undergarments. By March 2025 body-squishers were back: Millner’s Department Stores on Walnut Street were advertising “Slenderize Your Figure. Something New! Something Different! COMFORT CORSET-BRASSIERE Here is a garment that skillfully combines all advantages of corset and brassiere. Makes the figure look youthful, graceful but never carelessly uncorseted, and achieves the modish silhouette with a degree of comfort hitherto unknown. Sizes 36 to 56 bust measurements. Prices $2, $3, $4 and $5.”

75 years ago – 1950

The City started construction of a new arsenal in which to store dynamite, on the Pumphouse road near the site of the old Poorhouse Farm owned by the City in North Martinsville. It would be as large as allowed under recommendations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and would be used to store all dynamite owned by the City.

50 years ago – 1975

An honor guard presided over the body of Deputy Sheriff W.H. “Herman” Ferguson, a Henry County officer who was killed in a hit-and-run. They were Patrolman C.E. Long, Sheriff’s Capt. G. Melvin Brown, Deputy Garland Painter and Patrolman Bobby McCulloch. Ferguson was the first local officer to die in the line of duty in a quarter century.

25 years ago - 2000

MiNet (Martinsville Informational Network) was connecting city offices, schools, the library and non-profit organizations to feed off the same source. It had been formed 3 years before and cost the city so far about $400,000. It originally was considered a way to connect the City’s operations center with traffic signals and electric substations, but other benefits of it became apparent. Michael Scaffidi was the City’s telecommunications/traffic coordinator.