Dec. 16

100 Years ago – 1924

This article in the Dec. 16 Henry Bulletin: “Local Klan Busy During Past Week”- “At least three visits, it is said, have been made by the Klan during the past week, when the members of the local organization gladdened the hearts of several by small gifts, by which they expressed an interest in the work the parties were doing. On Thursday evening during the Social conducted by the Girl’s Circle of the Christian Church in the Municipal Building, members of the organization appeared making a gift of twenty dollars, the following day the ladies of the Methodist Church received a special delivery letter containing a gift to the members conducing a Bazaar at the church. On Saturday a second letter was sent to the ladies at the Baptist Church while they were conducting a handkerchief sale in the Western Union Office. This missive contained a gift of money also.”

Ad for Fulcher’s Inc., “The Man’s Shop” on Walnut Street: “House Coats and Lounging Robes. A gift for which every man finds plenty of use and enjoys thoroughly until worn threadbare – either a House Coat or a Lounging Robe. To help you pick the one you like, we have prepared an unusually generous assortment for your convenience.”

75 years ago – 1949

United Department Store advertised toys for Christmas: “Little Homemaker” plastic furniture set for dollhouse, 70 cents; tubular steel tricycle, $3.98; “Cuddly stuffed chinchilla. Gay jumbo sized baby doll – it’s a ribbon and fringe trim,” $2.98; 23-inch “DeLuxe Baby Doll in fancy Ninon dress and hate. Delight little mothers with a dressed up baby doll. Non-breakable plastic head, rubber limbs, Voice, $5.98.”

1960

The Bassett Community Center was working on a Friendship Christmas Tree. The center’s director, Jim Black, requested people send in cards to decorate the tree and expected at least 1,000.

50 years ago – 1974

The Chamber of Commerce expanded its high school economics classes. Previously, a businessman would visit a high school class (six area high schools, 37 classes and 1,100 students) to give a lesson in economics. The expanded program gave three economics lessons for the school year instead of just one. Eighty local businessmen participated to teach.

25 years ago - 1999

Bank Services of Virginia, which was headquartered in Oak Level at U.S. 220, announced that it would expand into the Beaver Creek plantation house, which recently had been the offices for Pluma Inc. Worth Carter was the Bank Services board chair and president. Bank Services served 10 banks including Patrick Henry National in Henry County and Martinsville. It was $1.8 billion in size, had 65 office with another 34 purchased and to be opened by the next year, and between 140 to 150 employees.

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

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