April 1

100 Years ago – 1925

The Jim Bob Bondurant Klan No. 29 Realm of Virginia, the local chapter of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, gifted the city a new flag to be used on the flag pole on public square. Included in the letter to the mayor which accompanied the gift of the flag, “… The cost of keeping an emblem always flying at [the flagpole’s] head is very great. Committed as our organization is to all that is best and beautiful in our national life, we regard it as within the province of our work to see that the Flag is given its due place and respect in the community life.”

75 years ago – 1950

Residents of West Fayette Street were still trying to raise $35,000 to buy property on Fayette Street to prevent the construction of a trucking terminal there, which was the goal of the owners, Jimmy C. Stone, Mrs. Ethel Stone and Roy Stone. Taylor Finney, speaking for the neighbors, reported that so far they had rounded up pledges of $31,000. W.B. Muse, also speaking for the neighbors, said they still hoped to buy the property without going to court. The land was on Fayette street between First and Second streets, and a trucking terminal did end up being built there.

50 years ago – 1975

Aubrey Lee Eanes, 58, and his son, Curtis Lee Eanes, 16, were trapped on an island a mile west of Koehler, in the Smith River. They had been trying to salvage several pieces of plywood that had washed onto the island by high water. Curtis fell into the fast current and managed to get out and call the Fieldale Rescue Squad to get his father. Dickie Nester, Neal Goins and Mike Pugh saved him.

25 years ago – 2000

Fifth District U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode Jr. started out as a Democrat, but he recently had gone independent.  The Fifth District Democratic Committee asked him to return funds contributed to his congressional campaign committee.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.