Dec. 30
100 Years ago – 1924
In 1924, local credit scores were kept, as evidenced by this ad from the Retail Merchants Association: “A Man’s Credit In Not Based On His Ability To Pay – but on the way he pays. It Is The Desire Of The Retail Merchants Association Of Martinsville – To give every person within trading radius of Martinsville a first class rating. On February 1st, work will be begun on the new Rating list. Pay Your Bills Promptly and Keep Your Rating High.”
75 years ago – 1949
The community was waiting to see who would be the first baby born in Martinsville in 1950. That baby would get all these prizes: $5 deposited into a Christmas Club account at The First National Bank; a training chair or training seat and a waterproof diaper bag from Midway Furniture Co.; a silver baby cup from Rimmer’s Jeweler; a baby swing from Henry County Furniture Co.; a baby thermometer from Fagg’s Drug Store; 10 shares in Mutual Building & Loan; an Arrow shirt from Atkins; a Johnson and Johnson Deluxe Baby Gift Set from Kearfott’s; a wool crib blanket from the Cradle Shop; a $15 reduction on a $24.95 crib from Penney’s; a 20-piece layette set from United Department Stores; a pink or blue waterproof plastic crib size innerspring mattress from K&S Furniture on 27 W. Main St.; a sterling silver item from The Jewel Box; one month diaper service from Snow White Diaper Service; a pink or blue wool baby shawl from Leggett’s; and a bassinette cover from Troxler Furniture Co.
1960
More than 1,000 City and County children and adults had contracted measles since Nov. 1, local health director Dr. Marion Edmonds reported. She said the worst part of the epidemic occurred in late November and early December, and local doctors were reporting as many as 50 cases each. The statewide death toll from measles was 35, but not deaths from measles had been reported locally. There was no cure for the measles, but the use of gamma globulin, a blood derivative, could be used to curtail the effects of the disease, but there wasn’t any of that available locally. This area’s quota of it was used up during a yellow jaundice epidemic in the area earlier.
50 years ago – 1974
The 141 residents of Martinsville Convalescent Home were treated to visits, gifts, cakes, stockings and entertainment from hundreds of visitors during the holiday week.
25 years ago - 1999
Patrick County launched its Enhanced 911 system, with Mildred “Mickie” Martin as its coordinator and chief of communications. The system provided an automatic number identification and automatic location identification of a 911 caller, and it had a telecommunication device for the deaf.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.