May 12
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
The body of Mrs. Nancy Gravely Eggleston, 43, wife of John G. Eggleston, was found in a dense pine thicket about 300 yards from her home, 6 miles south of Martinsville. She last had been seen on April 27, 1924, when a note was found sticking on a door in her bedroom, reading, “I am going to stay away for a while. Wife.” Her body had been mutilated, not only with signs of murder but also from having been partially eaten. Her sister-in-law, Polly Moore, opined that she had been looking for a still, as she had been known for making reports to prohibition officers.
75 years ago – 1949
Brothers Vernon and William Frith, operators of a service station in West Martinsville, were each convicted on liquor charges and fined $50 and costs. ABC Agent John Hicks testified that he bought a bottle of whisky for $3 from Vernon Frith on March 26.
1960
As the US economy topped 500 billion, City Manager Julian Hirst waved a caution flag pursuant to the school board’s presentation of their budget for 1960-61; City School Supt. M.L.Carper presented the budget of $1,345,806 and estimated that the City’s share would be about $792,101 which was an increase of $81,059 over the current budget. Hirst stated that the City Council should be aware of total municipality needs during consideration of the school board request, stating that, using current formulas, only $30,561 would be available for schools and $41,011 for other departments including increased charges for electricity, construction, maintenance, sewer improvement, and bond payments. The city was also considering the efficacy of extending sewer services outside the city for development of a shopping center and other businesses on 220 south of the corporate limits.
Harry Napper considered putting a ball and chain on his new pig. He had purchased the pig for $15 in Ridgeway and put him in the back of the truck to head home. En route to the Napper home, the critter jumped out of the truck; he was caught and put back on the truck. Then once he arrived at his new home he again bolted and ran away, and succeeded in escaping capture. Hopefully he visited neighbors who could apprehend him and take him back home, to enjoy his life shackled by that ball and chain.
50 years ago – 1974
Want Ads: “Bring back the pulsating tones of the mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ with the modern Wurlitzer Electronic Funmaker Spinet Organs. Leed’s Music Center has a complete stock from which to choose in a wide variety of styles and prices. A complete teaching program is available at Leed’s Music Center, downtown Martinsville.”
25 years ago - 1999
The City of Martinsville donated a 1965 Ford 850 pumper truck (fire truck with a 750-gallon tank) to the new Henry Volunteer Fire Department.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.