1925, quick rebuild of Bassett plant; 1950. lead census leaders Stafford G. Whittle III and Howard C. Bradshaw; 1975, seized liquor missing from sheriff’s department; 2000, competition at Martin Stables. (PHOTO: Train derailment at Koehler)

1925, slenderizing for stout women; 1950, Jaycees raise money for Community Hospital; 1975, tornado tore through Leatherwood; 2000, Penny Decker and Glenda Inman start string orchestra for children. (PHOTO: Bridge and Walnut)

1925, four local Hamilton Theatres; 1950, money for widening 220 and 58; 1975, FC Income Tax Service; 2000,VF Knitwear donates trailer for fire training. (PHOTO: 1895 J.B. Lavinder ad)

1925, “A Sandwich Everybody Likes'“; 1950, A Promise to “Mothers of Skinny Kids'“; 1975, albums and 8-tracks at K-Mart; 2000, Lisa Hughes promoted at VDOT. (PHOTO: Waller’s Ford in Fieldale)

1925, Virginia State Teachers Assn.; 1950, City officials meet with local dynamite sellers; 1975, funeral for Deputy Ferguson; 2000, local Christian singles group takes Joyce Meyer trip. (PHOTO: Martinsville Canning Plant, where people canned their own fruits and vegetables)

1925, bodyshaper to “achieve the modish silhouette”; 1950, City’s new arsenal near the old Poorhouse Farm; honor guard presides over the body of Deputy W.H. Herman Ferguson; 2000, MiNet’s early years. (PHOTO: Liberty Heights Pool, abandoned; where the Liberty Fair shopping center is now)

1925, First Baptist Church’s Fiddlers Convention; 1950, Bondurant Furniture Corp. and Exchange Clubs; 1975, preliminary hearing for Shanghai Thomas; 2000, The Virginia Home. (PHOTO: Philpott Marina)

1925, Comfort Corset-Brassiere; 1950, attorney attempts to delay executions; 1975, Deputy W.H. Herman Ferguson killed in action; 2000, After Sunday with Joshua Shilling. (PHOTO: Craig and Bassett store and undertaking)

1925, auction of lots on Watt Street; 1950, Patrick County woman dies in Spray jail fire; 1975, City and County look at consolidating some services; 2000, Miss MHC Scholarship Pageant contestants.

1925, Chief Forest Warden George Gravely of Sandy River; 1950, Virginia Avenue gets its name; 1975, Jaycees sell apple butter; 2000, Kimberly Rowe, 7, saves family from fire. (PHOTO: Central Grammar School on Brown and Cleveland)

1925, two airplanes thrill the crowds; 1950, ABC agent;’s home blasted by dynamite; 1975, Bicentennial Commission; 2000, Mr. E (Paul Eisenheimer) celebrated at Sanville School (PHOTO: Walnut Street)

1925, Knights of Pythias talk about building a castle hall on Public Square; 1950, Al’s Music Center; 1975, truck escape ramp for Greasy Bend on U.S. 58 in Patrick County; 2000, 75 people put out Basstt brush fire. (PHOTO: Rough and Ready Mill at Reed Creek in Bassett Fork)

1925, Broad Street buildings nearly finished; 1950, Martinsville Seven in Virginia Supreme Court; construction starts on Philpott Dam; 1975, worker paralyzed after fall at Bassett Superior plant; 2000, BB&T offers to rent third floor to City. (PHOTO: 1930s Broad and Church)

1925, permit needed for hogs in city; 1950, Martinsville Library grows; 1975, scrap paper drive; 2000, Rajah Temple No. 195 officers. (PHOTO: Fuller Memorial Baptist Church)

1925, minstrel shows at Baldwin Theatre; 1950, possible Baptist seminary for Martinsville; 1975, burglar in Druid Hills; 2000, gas prices rise to a shocking $1.52. (PHOTO: Sours Mill at North Fork Leatherwood Creek. Gus Dyer is on the wheel.)

1925, Axton brothers fly to NC; 1950, illegal fishing; 1975, train derailed near Rives Road; 2000, unemployment benefits raise by $36. (PHOTO: Henry County school bus)

1925, a chopping and an enjoyable dance; 1950, wild day at Martinsville Speedway; 2000, EDQ officers investigaing. (PHOTO: Ridgeway station)

1925, first used car dealership; 1950, Central Grammar School turned into storage; 2000, Tultex assets sold. (PHOTO: Fieldale Train Station)

1925, “Nice things to eat”; 1950, Henry Co. tops Virginia for March of Dimes; 1975, new decals; 2000, Trade Show and Moss-Burton redevelopment area. (PHOTO: Hotel Hamilton where Jefferson Plaza is now)

1925, American Legion Minstrels; 1950, Gilberts run out of town for running disorderly house; 1975, food stamps for 2,200 families; 2000, Trade Act brings 220 more to PHCC. (PHOTO: Henry C. Lester home on Church Street)