July 1
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
Mr. Eans of Bassett was running a grocery store at Prillaman’s old stand.
Playing at the New Hamilton Theater: “Sure Fire Flint,” comedy drama; “All Brothers Are Valliant,” thrilling sea story also comedy; “Gloria Swanson in Zaza,” Extra Good – No Advance – Also news and Easops; “Big Brother,” story by Rex Bench, Paramount Picture; “Harold Lloyd in Dr. Jack,” A Scream from start to finish, no advance. $5,000 pipe organ playing each show.
75 years ago – 1949
Bassett was recuperating from flooding, after the Smith River rose 12 feet two days before. The major concern was quality of the water supply, as wells and other water supply sources were covered by the high water. Many were being pumped clean and treated with chemicals. County Agent George Pollard estimated damages to crops at around $10,000. Martinsville City Manager Kent Matthewson offered Bassett the use of Martinsville’s mosquito- and fly-fogging machine.
The transcripts of the Martinsville Seven trials had been completed by court stenographer Mrs. Stephen D. Martin and certified the day before by Judge Kennon C. Whittle and Clerk of Court Jesse D. Clift, and on July 1, 1949, certified copies were mailed to Martin A. Martin of Richmond, an attorney for the NAACP, which had requested and paid for the transcript.
1960
A plan for new county schools was revealed. It would build a new $1 million, 1,000-pupil high school in Collinsville, near the intersection of Routes 57 and 220, to relieve overcrowding at John D. Bassett and replace Fieldale High. The plan also proposed elementary schools for Figsboro and another in Ridgeway, near Drewry Mason.
The fire sirens sounded at 6:29 each evening for a few days to announce the opening of the nightly performance of the annual Fireman’s Bazaar, which was held at the Brown Street field.
The Blue Law went into effect on this day. The Blue Law limited what could be sold on Sundays. In Martinsville, Commonwealth’s Attorney John J. Hartley said the City would move slowly to enforce the law until some confusion is cleared up. They would issue warnings before warrants. Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kenneth M. Covington did not state his position to the newspaper. Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney Martin F. Clark said his office would hold off on enforcing the parts of the law that dealt with food until that was better understood, but his office would enforce other sections. The law did not apply to merchants whose Sabbath was a different day than Sunday.
50 years ago – 1974
Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County had just begun plans to create an emergency department staffed with full-time specialized personnel. Hospital administrators were planning to have a staff of four full-time doctors who would work solely in the new ER, working shifts on a regular, staggered basis.
25 years ago - 1999
The Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals rejected a request by Aiken Summit Wesleyan Church for a larger sign than rules allowed (which was 50 square feet). Pastor David Marcum said he would probably appeal that ruling in court.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.