March 27
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
100 Years ago – 1924
Several cases of rabies, also called “hydrophobia,” were found among dogs in the northwestern part of the county, reported County Game Warden B.M. Minter, so all dogs in and around Fieldale, Bassett, Ironside and other communities in that section were under quarantine. A cow in north Bassett died from a rabies bite.
75 years ago – 1949
Playing at the Martin Theater: “The Stranger” with Philip Merivale, Richard Long and Billy House; and “Wild Horse Mesa” with Tim Holt. At the Roxy: “Nighttime in Nevada” with Roy Rogers (“Slick with his guns – quick with his fists”) and Trigger; and “Trouble Makers” with Leo Gorcey and The Bower Boys. At the National: “Disaster” with Richard Denning and Trudy Marshall, and “Marshal of Reno” with Wild Bill Elliott” as Red Ryder.
1960
City Manager Julian Hirst called for an evaluation of the costs of the new structure at the Martinsville Municipal Airport, to determine whether to seek funds from the State. Additionally, the City offered a month-by-month least to the Airport Authority, which was met with disdain by the president, R. F. Gravely, Jr., indicating that the offer reflected a lack of commitment on the part of the City. Gravely indicated that the situation was an emergency because a number of aircraft were tied in the open and subject to weather, which had been brutal that year.
In Richmond, picketing of Miller & Rhoads and Thalhimer’s Department Stores continued for the third week, as the stores continued to refused service to the black community.
50 years ago – 1974
Three local textile manufacturers make MHC the “Sweatshirt Capital of the World”: Pannill Knitting, Bassett-Walker Knitting Co. and Sale Knitting Co. Industry leaders talked to the Martinsville Bulletin about the shortage: Because of the oil shortage, said Bassett-Walker President L. Dudley Walker, “There is a shortage of acrylic fibers, but we don’t feel it will affect our production.” “We are not worried so much about the shortage as we are about the price of” synthetic fiber, said William G. Pannill, president of Pannill. Most sweatshirts then were 50% cotton and 50% acrylic. Bassett-Walker also made double-knit fabrics which are made almost entirely from polyester, another petroleum product.
25 years ago – 1999
“Cops for a Cure: Ladies Night Out” was a womanless beauty pageant fundraiser at Bassett High School, raising more than $5,500 the American Cancer Society. Fourteen Henry County deputies competed. County Court Magistrate Mike Spence was the emcee. Wayne Green won.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.