May 19
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
Walker-Fair Hardware Co., Inc., just had purchased building, contents and operations of the old T.N. Barbour hardware business, which had operated for 30 years. Mr. Barbour was retiring.
John G. Eggleston, held for a week on suspicions of having murdered his wife, was released on $1,000 bond.
75 years ago – 1949
Claude Turner, operator of the Martinsville milk market, announced that Martinsville had produced a surplus of milk for the first time since World War II. County Agent George Pollard conferred with milk producers on the situation. Assistant County Agent R.S. Cofey said pastures in the county were producing so much grass that cows were producing more milk than usual.
1960
The grand opening of the new Bassett Community Center was set for June. Most of the construction had been completed, with only landscaping, interior finishing and furnishing remaining to be done. With four dressing rooms, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, an eight-lane bowling alley, ping-pong, shuffle board, television lobby and combination assembly and dining room, every citizen was sure to find something wonderful to do.
A bill sponsored by Senator John F. Kennedy, candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, was held up in Senate. The bill increasing the minimum wage from $1 to $1.25 an hour was opposed by the Eisenhower administration.
50 years ago – 1974
The Dyers Store Volunteer Fire Department, which was new then, sponsored a motocross all-trophy motorcycle race at Leatherwood Park. The event included trail biking, fishing, camping, music Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning. Proceeds would go to the building fund.
25 years ago - 1999
The Rives Theatre showed “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” to a capacity crowd. The theater had done more than $20,000 in upgrades in advance of showing that movie.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.