July 28

100 Years ago – 1924

Ad: Barn Flues: High grade flues at low prices. Apply to Seymour Metal Works, Martinsville, Va.”

75 years ago – 1949

E.F. Kirkland’s Circle K Ranch, combined with the Famous Hollywood Thrill Circus starring Ken Maynard and his Wonder Horse Tarzan, held shows for four days starting July 28 at the Martinsville Speedway. The shows featured 100 wild outlaw bucking horses, 100 bulls, 50 world champion cowboy, 50 world champion cowgirls, famous Hollywood stunt men in action, bronc riding, bulldogging and wild Brahman bull riding. Tickets to see this “Wild, Thrilling, Death-Defying Action” were sold at Fagg’s, Kearfott’s and Patterson’s Drug Stores for $1 for adults and 50 cents for kids, with “section reserved for colored!” The rodeo was sponsored by the Jaycees as a benefit for Community Hospital.

1960

There was a new program that year: Each 15-year-old to get a driver’s license received in the mail a letter from Commissioner C.H. Lamb with “a little free advice” and a reprint of the Saturday Evening Post article “Brief Remarks By An Anxious Father To His Teenage Son About To Drive.”

50 years ago – 1974

During this time of high gas prices, bicycles were a popular form of transportation, but they also were heavily targeted by thieves. From January to June 1973, 28 stolen bicycles were reported to the Martinsville Police Department, but during that same period in 1974, there were 50 stolen bikes.

25 years ago – 1999

Readers Choice was a bookstore on East Main St. It also sold gifts and balloons for events.

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