June 3

By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion

100 Years ago – 1924

Henry County met its quota of young men in applications for training at the C.M. T. Camp [Citizens’ Military Training Camp] in July, but more were being sought as other counties did not meet their quotas. The camp was described in the June 3, 1924, Henry Bulletin as “a fine opportunity for young men to spend a six weeks’ vacation without expense and to receive healthful and useful military training mixed with delightful entertainment, sports and recreation.” Another article in the same edition of the newspaper encouraged girls to attend the dances at Camp Meade, “not only once but often.” “Weekly dances, boat trips, field meets, and sham battles are scheduled on the pleasure program for the month, and in order to make these occasions just a thrilling success, five hostesses have been appointed whose orders are to look after the embryo-general ladies.” Young ladies would stay at The Hostess House at Camp Meade.

75 years ago – 1949

These classified ads: “CLUB BILLARD PARLOR—Be happy and you’ll be beautiful, a beauty expert tells women. And here they’ve been trying to be beautiful in order to be happy.” / “A NEW YORKER—Fell three stories to the first floor and wasn’t hurt. If he had landed in the basement, ’twould have been another story. Martinsville Printing Co. / JOE—Get your own record of “Riders in The Sky” at Al’s Music Center. I don’t want to have to get up at 2 a.m. anymore and play mine for you. – Pete.”

1960

Burton Connor of Callands, 22, was struck by lightning for the second time as he washed his hands in the kitchen sink at his parent’s home. Lightning channeled through a water pipe, knocking him to the floor. He got up and went to the living room to tell his parents what had happened, then collapsed unconscious. He was rushed to a Danville hospital where he was pronounced A-OK, just to go home and rest. This was his second personal encounter with lightning. His first experience was when years earlier he was struck as he ran across the front yard. He was unconscious for about an hour. Maybe lightning does strike twice …

The Henry County Board of Supervisors unanimously dropped a section of County Ordinance which required county residents and business establishments within 300 feet of City-owned water and sewage lines to make use of those utilities. It was discovered that the rate businesses would have had to pay the City was 37 cents on every $100 worth of business done plus regular sewage rates.

50 years ago – 1974

Projects by students of the Martinsville High School masonry class had saved the city school system about $25,000, assistant principal Joseph Finley had reported to the Bulletin. The students of Dale Bowman, called “Bowman’s Boys,” built the restrooms, press box, ticket booths and brick monuments for the Dan Greene Memorial Stadium at the school.

25 years ago - 1999

Things weren’t looking good for Tultex Corp. The company lost $36.5 million in 1998. Where its stock had been trading at between $5 and $10 for more than a decade, throughout 1999 its stock was valued less than at $1 a share.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sherry’s Gifts at 11 Walnut St. was held. It was run by Sherry Preston, and Joyce Tarpley was the shop coordinator.

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