Feb. 19

100 Years ago – 1925

Happy Jack was a well known Patrick County character. He had given a lecture on “the boarder who stole my wife.” Rumors were flying about that he had died: in West Virginia, hit by a train; in Bassett, hit by a car; and on the same day, in Charleston, W.Va., by an old enemy over a coal mine injury dispute. Happy Jack’s mother, who lived in Critz, sent someone a letter – and that someone shared it with the Henry Bulletin – telling of Happy Jack’s itinerary since he left Martinsville on Jan. 8. He was last seen in Welch, W.Va., the week before – a full month after he was thought to be dead. He was expected to come back to Martinsville within the week.

The Community Club of Horsepasture met at the home of Mrs. J.M. Cruise to have a program on the care of poultry, followed by a lively discussion.

75 years ago – 1950

Al’s Music Center advertised “See and Hear the New Jesse French Styles” upright pianos. The shop was at 6 Church St., and the phone number was 2412.

1961

Men from 712 Pace St., 512 Knowl St., 105 Clay St. and 122 Moss St. were served summons to Municipal Court on charges of not having their dogs vaccinated against rabies and failing to get the 1961 State dog license tags.

50 years ago – 1975

Four hundred house builders and dealers from 14 states attended the Seventh Annual Builder-Dealer Seminar at the National Guard Armory on Commonwealth Boulevard. The event was sponsored by American Standard Homes Corp. of Martinsville.

25 years ago – 2000

Family Life Medical Services, which provided free health care for people in need, opened at 929 E. Church St. Its founder was Keith Nichols, and its prior location was the basement of McCabe Memorial Baptist Church.

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