May 6

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 Years ago – 1924

The Garden Club held a flower sale in the vacant store room adjoining the Quality Shop in the Hamilton Theater Building. The sale was delayed somewhat due to the lateness of the season. Plants to be offered included coleus, scarlet sage, verbena, ageratum, pansies, zinnias, petunias, snap dragons, cannas, geraniums, calendula, vinca vines, moonflowers, tomatoes and peppers.

75 years ago – 1949

A demonstration in terrace construction was held at the farm of Walter Collins near Axton.

The Fine Arts department of the J.E.B. Stuart Woman’s Club sponsored the Patrick County Music Festival, with participation from seven Patrick County schools. Master of ceremonies was Coy Thomas.

James Riddle, a Federal prohibition agent from Greensboro, N.C., but who had made his headquarters at the Griggs Hotel in Ridgeway, was arraigned on the charge of maliciously and feloniously assaulting and shooting Harry Warren of Martinsville. Testimony was that Warren was in a delivery truck with Jack Holland and Harry Maury near Double Branch Bridge when Riddle, who had a lady in his car, pulled up and struck Warren on the head with a pistol, then shot him, saying that Warren had given him more trouble than any other man in Henry County.

1960

English Ford, Paul Rumbaugh, Jack Whitten and Bill Harlowe were announced the adult leaders for the Patrick Henry Boy Scout Trip taking place in three months. Nine places still remained for the trip scheduled to cover 2,600 miles through seven states plus five days in canoes in Canadian waters.

Edwards Furniture offered the all new Maytag Super Automatic Washer with a 10-pound capacity for $188.88 with trade. The Maytag Halo of Heat Dryer was offered for $148.88, while the world famous Maytag Wringer Washer went for $98.88 with trade.

50 years ago – 1974

Martinsville native Col. Richard L. Prillaman was nominated by President Richard Nixon for promotion to Brigadier General in the Army. He was thought to be Martinsville’s first general since Gen. Joseph Martin settled Henry County. Prillaman, 46, had grown up on Beverly Way and was a 1950 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He had his wife, the former Jacqueline Hale of Fieldale, had two children.

25 years ago - 1999

The Horsepasture Volunteer Rescue Squad was expanding its building on U.S. 58 West with a 30- by 50-foot, two story addition which would have a meeting room, kitchen, two dorm rooms, offices and storage. The cost was expected to be near $80,000, with all labor donated.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.