August 31

100 Years ago – 1924

Mr. J.B. Billings of the Leatherwood district had been making violins for about 20 years. It was announced that his violins would be on display at the Henry County Fair in September, along with a violin he had that was 150 years old.

75 years ago – 1949

Owen Randolph Minter left home to attend school at Hampton-Syndey, where he would report for football. Dick Hensley Jr. left home headed for the University of Richmond to resume studies. John Banner Baughan, who had been a ranger at Fairy Stone State Park over the summer, returned to Leaksville, N.C., for school.

1960

It was the last day of summer vacation for 14,450 city and county children who were due to return to school. In Patrick County, the number was 3,800, also going back to school the next day.

50 years ago – 1974

A Skate-a-Thon was held from noon to midnight at Interskate on U.S. 220 South. Sponsors were the Martinsville and Ridgeway Jaycees, the MHC Chamber of Commerce and the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. This was to raise money for the annual muscular dystrophy fund drive. A local phone number also had been designated for local residents to call in pledges to the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.

25 years ago - 1999

The Dutch Inn offered breakfast buffet for $4.95 and dinner buffet for $8.95. If you wanted to get fancied up before a date there, you could get your nails done at L.A. Nails: full set for $19.99, gel nails for $30, fill-ins for $12.99 or a manicure & pedicure for $30.

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