Feb. 23
By Holly Kozelsky and Pat Pion
1924
Ad for W.P. Hodnett Co., Phones 74 and 369, Martinsville: “Round Steaks That Are Good. Even the cheaper cuts of meat from this Shop are to be desired, for none but the best cattle is purchased by us. You’ll appreciate the quality as well as the service we offer.”
1949
The Astor Café closed at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, and would stay closed all day Thursday, Feb. 24, for remodeling, to be back open at 6 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25.
More than 100 members of Post 1, Travelers Protective Association of Martinsville attended their annual meeting at Club Martinique. Local Post president was Rufus S. Turner.
1960
On this date the continuing lunch counter sit-ins in Charlotte, Greensboro, Norfolk, and Nashville became a topic of conversation in the Martinsville Bulletin. It was noted that the demonstrating students were both black and white, and that they were well-dressed and quiet. Some read college textbooks; others read the Bible. The NAACP claimed to have no prior knowledge of the movement. There seemed to be the possibility that the efforts were entering a cooling-off period. The sitdowns were seen as the protest of a new generation.
The Henry County Jail, which had been a controversial subject for several years, was labeled “improved” by the State Department of Welfare and Institutions. It had cleaner conditions and presented a better appearance.
1974
Clubs in the area included: Martinsville-Henry County Women’s Club (planning an arts and crafts show), Altrusa Club (latest program on the Equal Rights Amendment), Mildred Lee United Daughters of the Confederacy, Martinsville Home Extension, Ridgeway Homemakers, Ridgeway Garden Club, Holly Oak Garden Club and the Challengers (the program was on TV Bible study).
1999
Houses advertised by Rives S. Brown: 215 Rives Road, 3 BR, 2 bath, $82,000; 911 Spruce St., 3 BR, 2 bath, $73,900; 1441 Country Ridge, Bassett, 3 BR, 2 baths, $215,000; 505 Turner Ashby Road, Chatmoss, 4 BR, 3 ½ baths, $144,500; 3621 Irisburg Road, Axton, 3 BR, 2 baths, $71,000.
PHOTO: 1933 - Detail view of the original counter and built-in merchandise drawers along the store's east wall; open shelving for dry goods can be seen above the counter; looking northeast - Horsepasture Store, U.S. Route 58 & State Route 687, Horse Pasture, Henry County, VA. Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, John Atkinson, Benjamin Watkins, Paul Clifton, James Lester Roberson, John H Schoolfield, Robert A Schoolfield, et al., Ryan, Robert A, photographer. Horsepasture Store, U.S. Route 58 & State Route 687, Horse Pasture, Henry County, VA. Horse Pasture Henry County Virginia, 1933. translateds by Christianson, Justinemitter, and Mcpartland, Marymitter Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/va1719/.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin accessed on microfilm at the Martinsville Branch Library.