Jan. 25

1925

Orthopedic specialist Dr. William Tate Graham came to Martinsville on Sunday, Jan. 25, to give a free medical clinic for crippled children, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Grammar School, sponsored by the Henry County Red Cross.

1950

Del. W.R. Broaddus Jr. introduced Martinsville’s new city charter in the House of Delegates for their approval or rejection. It was assigned to the Committee on Towns, Cities and Counties, then would (if approved at each step) go to the House floor, then the Senate, then the governor. The new charter basically followed state law on the city manager form of government. It addressed utilities and bonds and limited City Council to five members, down from eight, and the councilmen would elect the mayor from within their own ranks.

Plans were approved for a new tobacco auction warehouse to be erected in East Martinsville. It would have 60,000 square feet and cost between $80,000 and $90,000 and would replace the Farmers Warehouse on Main street, which was condemned for being unsafe.

1961

Priscilla Stone, 17, of 929 Starling Ave. won the 1961 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award at Martinsville High School. She got the highest score on a written exam on homemaking knowledge and attitudes which graduating seniors in her school had to write.

1975

City Transit Company, the bus system operated by the city, eliminated seven Saturday bus runs: the 1 and 3 p.m. Southside run, the 2 and 4 p.m. Mulberry Road run and the 2:40, 4:40 and 5:40 p.m. Northside runs.

2000

It snowed again – the third time in a week – this time, though, sneaking past forecasters and surprising everyone. The area got between 1 and 2 inches of snow.

The Henry County  Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to deny a rezoning request at the Fieldale Lodge. White Oak School had been wanting to rezone the property to move its school there, but neighbors had protested against it.

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