Sept. 16
100 Years ago – 1924
The Henry Bulletin announced that the newspaper was delayed about 24 hours in mailing issues due to a “meagre supply of electric current” which put “the Bulletin type setting and other machines all of which are operated by electric power from the town system … practically or altogether out of commission for the greater part of the past two days.” This low supply of electricity was due to “the excessively low water in Smith River.”
75 years ago – 1949
A baseball game was held at English field to raise money for the emergency polio drive, to close out that drive which had only lasted a week. About $6,500 had been raised; about $500 came in from the game. A square dance had been scheduled to be at the city armory to raise money for the polio emergency fund campaign, but it was cancelled. Reasons given were that the National Guard had equipment stored there, and there were no bathrooms for women. Music would have been by the Blue Ridge Partners, and admission would have been $1.50 per couple or 75 cents per person. Meanwhile, a “Negro Ball Game” was scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18, between the Black Giants of Martinsville and the Greensboro (N.C.) Hawks, organized by black residents, to benefit the emergency polio campaign.
1960
Vernon Hill, 26, of Claudville was bitten by a copperhead snake while trying to sneak up on a squirrel. Hill had been hunting near his home. He had taken off his shoes to sneak up on a squirrel when the snake bit him on the ankle. He killed the snake. A Stuart doctor gave him an anti-venom shot, and he stayed in the Stuart Hospital to recuperate.
Drewry Mason High School seniors Janice Stovall and Diana Minter went to the airport in Greensboro to see Sen. John F. “Jack” Kennedy, who was running for president. They had to wait 2 hours, but were rewarded by getting to met Kennedy and getting his autograph. When reminded that they were too young to vote for him, Stovall told the writer of the Stroller column, “Yes, I know – but we can vote in 1964, when Mr. Kennedy is up for re-election.” Five Martinsville High School government class students also went: Millie Ravenel, Bonnie Cheshire, Carolyn Shoekey, Fran Ravenel and Linda Cline. They estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 people were there.
50 years ago – 1974
Classes offered by Patrick Henry Community College’s Continuing Education Department included “Personal Grooming for the Modern Ms,” which covered topics such as walking, talking and makeup; beginner and adult guitar lessons’ graphic arts; flower arranging; cake decorating; ballroom dancing; “Introduction to Modern Grammar” and stocks and investments.
25 years ago - 1999
It was reported that incumbent Henry County Sheriff H. Frank Cassell had the most campaigning money for fundraising, with $12,303.60 in contributions from July 1 through Aug. 31.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.