March 20
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
The Business and Professional Women’s Club met Thursday, March 20, in the dining room of First Baptist Church. Mr. W.M. Whittle gave a brief talk about the city manager for of government, which some were advocating for Martinsville [It would not be passed until 1949]. New club members enrolled were Miss Fannie Gate, Mrs. Mamie Stone and Mrs. J.R. Reynolds. Hostesses were Mrs. J.R. Taylor and Mrs. A.J. Lester.
75 years ago – 1949
A newspaper article reported that the State Corporation Commission had before it a request by the Danville and Western railway to discontinue two passenger trains passing between Fieldale and Danville. They were the line’s only two trains still in operation, so that would mean the end of the Dick & Willie, as it was affectionately called. A public hearing was set for April 18.
1960
George Nease, president of Forest Park Country Club, announced plans to add nine holes of golf and improvements, to be financed by proceeds from the completed sale of $60,000 in first mortgage bonds, handled and sold within the club membership. The additional nine holes were built on land given to the Club by Rives S. Brown and consisted of 83 acres extending from the clubhouse to Lake Lanier, across Mulberry Creek, and back to the club house.
The accidental shooting by a guard of a 20 year-old-trusty at Convict Camp 32 at Horsepasture touched off an alarm that brought at least a dozen carloads of state and local police to the area. The extra police were called as a safeguard because of the intense nature of the occurrence; however, the facility remained calm and the day proceeded without further incident.
50 years ago – 1974
Though it looked like the gas shortage may be easing up, area gas station owners said they would remain closed on Sundays (a measure they took due to the shortage): Herbert Boaz of Broadview Texaco, Jesse Kendrick of East Church Street Exxon, Pete Ferguson of Collinsville Gulf, James Harris of Collinsville Texaco. Paul Adams of Church Street Sunoco said he was only selling to rescue squads and fire departments. George Martin, manager of Boulevard Exxon, said his station was temporarily out of gas but should get more in a few days, at which point he would pump only two hours a day, to a $3 limit.
25 years ago - 1999
A 2-story building on the corner of Chatham Road (Route 57) and Mountain Mist Drive was destroyed by fire. It had contained Kent Wright’s construction business on the top floor and Cecil’s Upholstery in the basement.
Martinsville-Henry County Junior Miss Nancy Redd won the position of second alternate Saturday night in the Virginia Junior Miss competition in Roanoke. In 2003, she was crowned Miss Virginia and finished in the Top 10 in the Miss America pageant.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.