Feb. 17 though the years

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 years ago - 1924

A sidewalk was being built down Starling Avenue between the bridge and Forest Avenue, on request from citizens of that street. The property owners along that section of the street had to pay half the cost.

75 years ago - 1949

At the preliminary hearing for the Martinsville Seven, victim Mrs. Glenn Wood testified about the attack. After the hearing, the seven men were taken back to three separate jails secretly “under heavy police guard,” the Martinsville Bulletin reported on Feb. 18, 2024.

1960

Mitchell Motor Company in Bassett offered for sale an extra clean ‘58 Mercury Monterey with radio, heater, power breaks, ONE owner for $1,945. They had several other offerings including a sharp ‘54 Ford 1 ton V8 pickup with heater, turn signals and a rear bumper, all for $695.

50 years ago - 1974

Peoples Service Drug Store had for sale: Appredine Reducing Plan, box of 42 tablets $2.13, “Enjoy Eating – Lose Weight – Starting Today”

Martinsville City Manager Tom Noland applied to the state energy office for emergency gasoline allocation. He told the Martinsville Bulletin that the city would not be able to get enough gas for the month to continue its regular level of services. To use less gas, the City was instituting measures such as cutting garbage pickup to one day instead of two and to not snowplow residential areas.

25 years ago - 1999

The CD-ROM was exciting new technology. The Patrick Henry Development Council made a CD-ROM, “A Vision for Your Future – Martinsville-Henry County Virginia”, with pictures, video and narration. A big-screen demonstration of the CD was made (to great acclaim) during the regular board meeting of the PHDC. The CD cost about $12,000 to produced. Five hundred CDs were ordered initially, and it could be updated and re-ordered 50 at a time. Sherry Ramsey was the PHDC executive director, Rusty Lacy the board chair and Brook Hankins its marketing manager.

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