August 27
100 Years ago – 1924
The Henry County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union held its annual convention. It started at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon for all “white ribboners” of Henry County. At 1 p.m., an institute was held for ways and means to work. The Martinsville union of WCTU was the hostess group.
At the Hamilton Theatre Aug. 27-28: “The Man of Mystery and His Bathing Beauties, Direct from Keith’s Vaudeville Circuit; The Greatest Mystifying Show on Earth – 40-minute Performance – Also regular picture program. Don’t fail to see Von Derleith’s free demonstration in drug store window. See Von Derleith put a lady to sleep Wednesday at 2 p.m. She will be carried to Hamilton Theatre and awakened on stage at 8:30 p.m.”
75 years ago – 1949
Lester Brothers Inc. of Martinsville were issued a permit by Roanoke city authorities to build nine one-story frame houses on Glenrose Avenue in northwest Roanoke, at a cost of about $6,500 each. Lester Brothers already had completed another housing project in Roanoke.
A brief ceremony was conducted to present Fire Chief Jim Minter with his new flaming red chief’s car. Burroughs-White Chevrolet Corp. “sold” the Martinsville Fire Department the car for $1.
Dean Donovant, 10, and Kay Self, 12, were the winners of a rod-and-wheel in the Better Fishing Rodeo at Whittle Lake south of the city. Dean caught a 6-inche bream (perch), and Kay won a 5-inch bream. Jackie Shaw, 13, won $1 for most fish caught – 13 bream. David Thore, 13, won a fly rod and reel for catching the first fish. Joe Carter, 12, got a bait-casting rod and reel for catching the last fish. Joe Henry Vaughan, 10, was the only one of the 25 kids who did not catch a fish, so he was given a $1 consolation prize. Dean Donovant was voted best sportsman. He caught four fish, but they all got away. His prize was several humorous pictures about fishing. The fishing rodeo was put on by the Recreation commission and sponsored by Mayor Nick Prillaman.
1960
The Ridgeway Community Center held the first Brunswick stew of the season on this date. The meal was sponsored by the Christian View Woman’s Auxiliary.
50 years ago – 1974
Mrs. Jessie R. Law, a teacher at South Martinsville Elementary School, not only had two sets of twins in her class – but both sets had the same names! One set was brothers Stacy and Tracy Hanks of South Askin Street, and the other was Stacie and Tracy Roark of Rivermont Heights. All four were 6 years old.
It was Mayor Francis T. West’s final City Council meeting, and also the last one for Councilman W. Don Hartford. West had been mayor for 8 years.
25 years ago - 1999
Three men from Bronx N.Y., thought to have been originally from Yugoslavia, were arrested by the FBI for breaking and entering and other problems at the Express Mart and Taco Bell on U.S. 58 East.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.