August 29

100 Years ago – 1924

Legal notices were in the Henry Bulletin “to ascertain whether the defendants or plaintiffs are entitled to possession of what is known as the Primitive Baptist Church Building and lot of Martinsville, Va.,” with G.A. Giles & als as plaintiffs and John W. Cheshire & als as defendants. Another was for the same with the Primitive Baptist Church of Leatherwood, listing Mr. and Mrs. Willie Minter, Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Washburn as plaintiffs and J.T. Jackson & als as defendants.

75 years ago – 1949

Another consultant had been hired to revitalize the downtown area (it’s now called uptown). Wilbur Smith and Associates of Richmond had recommended that Martinsville establish an authority to administer construction and operation of downtown parking. Assistant City Manager George W. Brown was against that, suggesting instead that a simple parking committee be created instead.

Penn Supply Corp., which had been located in the Nat’s Grill building, moved to the former Burge bakery building at 107 College St.

1960

Martinsville Municipal Airport Manager John Pace helped install 30 lights which were purchased with state funds for night use at the airport.

50 years ago – 1974

More Fieldale nicknames, from the Stroller column of the Bulletin, shared by Robert “Couger Bell” Adams: Allen “Monk” Wade, Donnie “Bones” Vaughn, Tommy “Hondo” Wyatt, Wesley “Winnie” Byrd, Talmadge “Buck” Daniel.

25 years ago - 1999

Day Star Ministries, up on a hill on U.S. 220 in Bassett Forks, raised $45,000 in 3 years by recycling aluminum to build a bridge needed to access the church. The Rev. Sammy Caldwell was the pastor. The church used to be Collinsville Church of God of Prophecy in a building it owned in Collinsville, and then the congregation rented a building on U.S. 220 while the new sanctuary and fellowship hall were being built.

— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.