June 12
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
County Demonstrator Miss Emma Bratten was recruiting female students to take the four-day Henry County Short Course for girls, to be held at the Roundabout Club, which was at a nook on the Smith River. Intensive classes on canning, poultry and home nursing would be offered for between 30 and 40 girls. Sponsors were the Henry County Improvement Committee, Kiwanis Club, Business and Professional Woman’s Club and various merchants. Presidents of local missionary societies of area churches would conduct the vespers service each evening.
75 years ago – 1949
Boy Scouts from several troops in the Patrick Henry district council attended the bi-monthly court of honor, held at First Methodist Church, with Ervin F. Russ, chairman in general charge. Irving M. Groves, Russell S. Pease, John G. Page and M.B. Jennings presented the awards. Aubrey Bradshaw of Troop 76, Horsepasture, was given a special award for meeting a number of requirements concerning punctuality and interest in general community activities.
1960
The Jewel Box on East Church Street advertised a “Free Vacation Film Plan! Color or Black & White – Here’s how it works: Take along as much film as you think you’ll need. Return, for full credit, any film you did not use or open. Plus, for every roll of film you have developed at our store you get a fresh, new roll absolutely free! Developing charge per 8-exposure roll includes oversize prints. 66 cents for black & white.”
50 years ago – 1974
Mrs. Hiawatha Mitchell of 407 Armstead Ave. won the Martinsville Highway Safety Commission’s slogan contest, sponsored by the Exchange Club. Here willing slogan was “Alert Today – Alive Tomorrow!” Her prize was $50.
Mt. Airy, N.C., firm Sherman Simpson Inc. was the apparent low bidder for the 4.3-mile second section of the US 220-US 58 bypass, running from Route 609 west of Fieldale to U.S. 58 West at Grassy Creek. Their bid was for $8.2 million.
25 years ago – 1999
Joan Ziglar was the speaker for graduation for 167 Magna Vista High School graduating seniors. She compared life after high school to playing football without protective equipment and the benefit of coach and teammates to rely on. Roger Epps, 16, was the youngest graduate. He started MVHS at the age of 12.
Roanoke television personality Julie Bragg was the commencement speaker at the Bassett High School graduation.
Joy Stone began working with Adams Realty. She had 2 years of real estate experience.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.