September 3
100 Years ago – 1924
Miss Mary Stephens advertised a Private Kindergarten, to be held from 9-11:30 a.m. weekdays in the rooms of Presbyterian Sunday School, and to open on Sept. 8. People interested should call 355.
75 years ago – 1949
The City sent eight electric motors to a company in Greensboro, N.C., for reconditioning. Those motors had been used at the city rock quarry. Those motors would be dried in a baking oven, cleaned and inspected, which would take about a week. At the quarry, J.H. Pharis and Dave Campbell were checking and starting the overhaul of switches and starters. This time of refurbishment was expected to last about 10 days, after which, prison farm labor would begin producing rock.
In the McDaniel building on Starling Avenue, tryouts were held for the Community Theater’s fall production “My Sister Eileen.” Co-directors were Jack Harnsberger and Frances Wells.
1960
About 150 Patrick County tobacco farmers were assessing damages of a heavy hail storm which ravaged the area two days before. County Farm Agent Fred Olinger estimated that a full half of Patrick County’s tobacco lands were destroyed. Hail the size of 50-cent pieces ripped through tobacco leaves and in some areas high winds whipped tobacco right off its stalks. The storm hit hardest in the Big A section and also Critz, Stella, Patrick Springs and Claudville. Most of the farmers carried crop insurance, but only in amounts ranging from $300 to $500. Farmers already had harvested their first crop and were on their second or third pullings, but a full harvest consisted of about eight pulls. Some of the hail-damaged leaves could be harvested and sold as low-grade.
A telethon to raise money for the emergency polio fund was held over WSLS Channel 10. Local people on that show included for former polio patients, Mrs. Norma Nelson Plaster, Cynthia Sue Campbell, Larry Truill and Jerry Doss. Local performers on the show included the Four Teens of Bassett, the Chatham Heights Baptist Quartet, soloists Bitsy Fulcher and Dan Manson, both of Martinsville, and a quartet from Stuart.
50 years ago – 1974
Harry L. Boaz, a 12-year City Council member, was elected mayor of Martinsville, and William Hobson, the city’s first black councilman, was elected vice mayor.
25 years ago - 1999
Martinsville was in the throes of Beanie Baby panic in the days after the announcement by Ty Inc. that the plush toys were being discontinued. Don Conner of Don’s Collectibles in Liberty Fair Mall sold hundreds of Beanie Babies in two days. Matthew’s Hallmark, where Anuetra Johnson worked, had received a shipment of 100 Beanie Babies which sold out in 2 hours. Nettie Webb of Collinsville collected Beanie Babies and when she heard the news, she rushed out to buy Lips, a multi-colored toy fish, for $35. She had 170 in her collection.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.