Nov. 11
100 Years ago – 1924
To celebrate Armistice Day, a parade formed on Public Square at 1:45 p.m. and marched through the streets. A program was given at 2:15 p.m. at Hamilton Theatre. It had songs, recitations, speakings, etc., with refreshments served to soldiers. Merchants and other businessmen were asked to close their businesses from 1-4 p.m. so that everyone could attend the celebration.
Meanwhile, also on Armistice Day, a free chest clinic was held in Mountain Valley at the home of Dr. J.E. Richardson for any citizen of Henry County, sponsored by the State Board of Health in cooperation with the Red Cross. A list of seven symptoms, which would warrant a chest exam, is given.
At the regular meeting of the Town Council [yes, held on Armistice Day], Council voted to require auto-liability insurance on cars. The liability coverage should be at least $5,000 on one person injured, at least $10,000 on two or more people injured and at least $1,000 on property damage. This law would take effect Jan. 1, 1925.
75 years ago – 1949
The State Milk Commission granted a milk distributing license to the Boaz Ice Cream Co. H.L. Boaz, president of the company, said the firm would spend about $50,000 to enter the milk market, to begin distributing milk by Feb. 1. It would cost $40,000 to buy new milk processing equipment. There already were two milk distributors in the Martinsville area: Clover Creamery and Martinsville Creamery. There were four producer-distributors: Wray Brothers Dairy, Shields Dairy, R.L. Shockley and Fisher Farms. The Martinsville milk area covered most of Henry county and parts of Franklin and Patrick. Willard Smith was chairman of the Martinsville Milk Board, and board members were C.S. Turner, W.P. Fulton, T.G. Pratt and Damon Shields.
Rep. Thomas B. Stanley was the speaker at an Armistice Day program at Roxy Theatre. He said the traditional way of life should be preserved but was being endangered by a growing tendency to rely on the government instead of traditional self-reliance. The Martinsville High School band performed. The program was organized by Pannill Post, No. 42, American Legion.
Petitions were being circulated in the Jefferson Circle area of the City for more sidewalks leading to the new Joseph Henry Elementary School in City Park. Petitions also are being circulated for the same purpose on the west side of Spruce street from Church street extension to Mulberry street. Another group of neighbors from the north side of Mulberry street from Calvary Christian Church to Spruce street already are talking of making a petition. Some of that area already did have sidewalks. Under the city ordinance, the City would pay half the costs and the property owners would have to pay the other half. Streets leading to schools took precedence.
Fieldcrest Hosiery Mill Manager Emory H. Goode was the chairman of the 1949 Christmas Seal Sale in MHC, which was run by the Henry County Tuberculosis Association from Nov. 21 to Christmas. Tuberculosis was the first cause of death from disease among people aged 15-44.
1960
The champion of the Fieldale turkey shoot was 8-year-old Billy Joe Saunders of Bowles Road in Collinsville. Leonard Saunders and his son, Larry, 10, took little Billy Joe along with them to the turkey shoot, though he had never fired a shotgun. Fourteen men had fired at the target without winning a prize. Then Billy Joe stepped up, pulled the trigger and won a turkey and two dozen eggs. Then he took a free shot and won a frozen ham. It took all three Saunderes to haul the loot home. Billy’s target sheet was posted on the clubhouse wall with the note “8 years old.”
50 years ago – 1974
Brig. Gen. Richard L. Prillaman, 46, had just been promoted to brigadier general by the US. Army. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Prillaman of 706 Beverly Way.
25 years ago - 1999
Jessie Hairston of Cordover Drive was saved from a house fire by his cousin and neighbor, Loretta Hairston, who was knocking on his door after she saw smoke at the house. When he got out of the house, Dyers Store firefighter Louis Redd was pulling up and getting hoses from the truck. Mike Reynolds and Robert “Peter Rabbit” Walker starting spraying water on the flames. By the time the rest of the fire department arrived, the fire was pretty much put out.
— Information from museum records and the Henry Bulletin and the Martinsville Bulletin.