July 8

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 Years ago – 1924

This article in the July 8, 1924 Henry Bulletin: “On July 1 the most drastic law ever passed by a legislative body in the United States on any subject went into effect as the law of Virgnia regulating the registration of automobiles. It makes the selling of an automobile without first procuring a certificate of title a felony for which a penitentiary sentence of five years may be imposed. There are many other drastic provisions. Every owner of a machine, after July 1, must apply for a new certificate of title to the machine …Anyone operating a motor vehicle after July first without first procuring a certificate of title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor …”  Though that July 8 article refers to the requirement of a “certificate of title,” a letter by Virginia Attorney General Jno. R. Saunders to Martinsville Justice P.R. Wray, dated July 19, 1924, says it’s a license that is required: “You are entirely correct in believing that cars should not be operated without licenses and that the law contemplates that licenses should be purchased before cars are operated.”

List of some of the prizes of the upcoming Henry County Fair [this is the third time this column is listing them because they are so interesting]: 25 lbs. sugar for best pound of butter, from Jamison’s Store; Knox hat for best gentleman rider, from Fulcher’s Inc.; One suit or dress cleaned and pressed for best general display of fruit, from Kester’s Dry Cleaning Co.; one cord tire for best decorated Essex car, by Gregory Motor Co.; one 27X54 rug for best collection of canned goods, from Martinsville Furniture Co.

75 years ago – 1949

The Lester Brothers lumber and building materials plant in Villa Heights were saved from destruction by fire, by the Martinsville Fire Department and plant employees. The plant was a quarter-mile north of the city’s corporate limits. A night watchman discovered the fire around 3 a.m., in the boiler room. The city fire department’s booster pump truck doused the fire with water from the nearby Jones Creek. Damage was estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000. Repai rwork was started immediately.

1960

Downtown merchants declared a city-wide trade promotion, “July Value Days.” Traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, was said to be heavy as shoppers descended upon the sale, which ran from Thursday to Saturday. The stores were open until their usual closing times, at 5:30 p.m.

50 years ago – 1974

It was reported that during June, the Martinsville building inspection department issued seven permits for new residences, 11 for alterations to residences, seven for alterations to businesses and three for demolition of six residences.

25 years ago - 1999

Carter’s at 29 E. Main St. advertised its “Biggest Sale of the Year!” Men’s suits, hundreds to choose from – Buy 1, get one free; same with pant sets, and slacks. Sportswear was 50% off. Men’s jeans and short sets were 50% off, and dress shirts, 25% off. Tie sets, shoes, sportscoats and boys’ clothes were also half off; boys’ shoes were 25% off. The entire ladies department – suits, dresses, hats, pant sets and more – was 40% off. Sandy Carter is still selling suits in the same location today, and you’ll often see him (always sharply dressed, of course) out on the sidewalk, and he’ll throw up his hand and wave a greeting.

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