May 14

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 Years ago – 1924

The Methodists beat out the Baptists in a spelling bee held by the Methodist and Baptist Ladies Aid Societies at Farmers Warehouse. Dr. J.W. Simmons was the Baptist leader, and Mrs. F.D. Townes was the Methodist leader. The final two contestants remaining were Mrs. Dick Williamson and Miss Loula Carter. Williamson won by spelling “dentil” correctly. Proceeds were split fifty-fifty for each church’s building fund.

The Mutual Building and Loan Association of Martinsville was formed. Officers were: R.S. Brown, A.D. Beckner, C.T. Womack, Owen R. Early.

75 years ago – 1949

The new half-million-dollar water filtration plant on Jones Creek was open to the public from 1-9 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, and from 2-7 p.m. Sunday, May 15, for tours.

1960

Twelve hundred cartons of cigarettes valuing over $2,000 were stolen from a business on Clearview Drive, and a laundry truck was stolen from the parking lot of the County-City Laundry on East Church Street. The City Police put in a total of 142 overtime hours, traveling a total distance of 18,613 hours while consuming 1,858 gallons of gasoline and 47 quarts of motor oil as they dealt with thefts, reckless driving, speeding, city prison farm escapees and public drunkenness.

The Martin Theatre on Starling Avenue was ending the run of A Dog of Flanders. Jerry Lewis in Visit to a Small Planet was up next, while Suddenly Last Summer was finishing its run at the Roxy. All 8 local theaters, including 3 drive-ins, enjoyed a steady business.

50 years ago – 1974

Ad: POSEY MIZE Motor Co., 1104 Memorial Blvd., Gives You A LOT OF DRIVE FOR A LITTLE DOLLAR! See the selection of economical, dependable, late-model used cars on the lot now.

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