1924, teacher certificate examinations for ages 18+ (segregated); 1949, “best trap I ever saw for concealing whiskey”; 1960, three whiskey distilleries located; 1974, charges in boating deaths, and individualized school lunch menus. (PHOTO: Villa Heights in the 1950s)

1924, Martinsville Garden Club hosts state convention; 1949, Doris Hermes’ big win; 1960, Jimmy Amburn MHS’s first male cheerleader; 1974, 888 seniors graduate. (PHOTO: Looking out from Public Square, 1939. C.P. Kearfott’s at right is now that orange and white building; Kolodny’s presently is NCI (its original location).

1924, local hoboes are lanky; 1949, construction boom; 1960, Camp Powhatan expansion; 1974, Collinsville Jaycees nearing fundraising goal for park in Collinsville. (PHOTO: Fieldale YMCA)

1924, C.W. Holt advertises “Investment in Good Appearance;” 1949, metal porch gliders at Troxler’s; 1960, segregated summer camps, and another GoKart track in the makes; 1974, newly formed Axton-Laurel Park Lions Club sets sights on major park. (PHOTO: Fayette Street parking lot)

1924: People’s Bank ad outlines husband’s duty; 1949, too much rain posed challenges for farmers; 1960, Betty Jo Norton’s government classes at MHS went to City Council meeting; 1974. at the movies (and some titles we can’t repeat) (PHOTO: Floyd’s Cash Store on Cleveland Avenue)

1924, juror goes to Fontaine murder scene to conduct his own interviews; streets by Forest avenue to be taken over by city, and a park made; 1960, Smith Hydro-Electric project begins; 1974, want ads for barmaid and jewelry sales. (PHOTO: 1917, Church Street looking east)

1924, Grammar school starts library with 300 books; 1949, citywide insect fogging is especially heavy in areas that don’t have sewer service; 1960, drive for Martinsville Community Center falls short; 1974, PHCC’s Spring Dance and Miss PHCC contestants. (PHOTO: Broad Street Baptist Church, built in 1888)

1924, judge speaks on race relations; 1949, new fogging machine for citywide spraying of Chloradine; 1960, new school song for Fieldale High; 1974, first teacher of MARC retires; 1999, 2nd Lt. Sherri Sharpe graduates and begins her military career. (PHOTO: Foundry on Bridge Street)

1924, 250 attend lecture at Farmers Warehouse; 1949, Civil Rights Congress steps up; 1960, Albert Harris High School’s Evening of Music; 1974, changes made to controversial plan; 1999, New Jerusalem Apostle Church brings lunch to nurses.

1924, “The Whipping Boss”; 1949, Du Pont wins 10th safety award; 1960, Girl Scouts get roller-skating badges; 1974, movies (including “The Naughtiest Show in Town”) in Martinsville; 1999, Piedmont Community Services building under construction. (PHOTO: Martinsville’s high school)

1924, stranded Studebaker with illicit liquor seized; 1949, attorney out fishing; 1960, Fieldale Kart Club opened; 1974, bicentennial plans; 1999, 63 charged in drug sting. (PHOTO: Courthouse Square)

1924, Walker-Fair Hardware Co. buys out T.N. Barbour hardware; 1949, Martinsville produces surplus of milk; 1960, Bassett Community Center almost finished; 1974, Dyers Store VFD sponsors motocross race; 1999, Rives shows “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” to capacity crowd.v(PHOTO: Stone Mercantile and Prillaman Hotel 1940s)

1924, specials at C.W. Holt; 1949, road from Martinsville to Stuart to be built with prison labor; 1960, MHS presents “Oklahoma!”; 1999, “school safety summits” (PHOTO: Esso station where Dollar General is now)

1924, award offered for missing mule; 1949, electrical storm wreaks havoc; 1960, beauty pageant; 1974, help wanted ads specified age, gender; 1999, playground equipment dedicated to the late Archie Vipperman. (PHOTO: Billy Roger “Cowboy” Penn riding his horse in Bassett)

1924, Mulberry Street gets its start; 1949, cows die across county; 1960, hepatitis outbreak; 1974, 420 tour iris gardens of the Arthur Davises in Oak Level; 1999, Fieldcrest Lodge neighbors protest property proposal. (PHOTO: Ad for J.B. Lavinder’s store in Martinsville, Aug. 21, 1885, Martinsville Herald)

1924, husband charged in Fontaine murder; 1949, Rajah Temple Dokkies meeting and dance in Martinsville; 1960, Patricia Stillwell and Irene Hedgecock win; 1974, Stella Spencer’s beauty pageant; 1999, Pluma announces bankruptcy. (PHOTO: Former Martinsville General Hospital, where Virginia Museum of Natural History is now.)

1924, Methodists beat Baptists in spelling bee at tobacco warehouse; 1949, open house for water filtration plant; 1960, eight local movie theaters; laundry truck stolen; 1974, Posey Mize Motor Co. (PHOTO: Farmers Warehouse where the spelling bee was held. It’s the large building on Brookdale, with the car on the roof.)

1924, unprecedented amount of new construction in Martinsville; 1949, NAACP announces it would get involved in the Martinsville Seven case; 1960, Patrick County raised half the $300,000 needed to build hospital; 1974, 900 attend meeting on controversial Henry Co. subdivision ordinance; 1999, brush cleared from Korean Memorial at the road named for it. (PHOTO: Virginia Furniture, 1921)

1924, Nancy Gravely Eggleston of Fontaine murdered; 1949, Frith brothers of service station convicted on liquor charges; 1960, runaway pig; 1974, modern Wurlitzer Electronic Funmaker Spinet Organs at Leed’s Music Center; 1999, City donates fire truck to new Henry VFD. (PHOTO: Dr. Dana Baldwin’s Sandy Beach Resort)

1924, KKK makes dramatic gesture at revival meeting, and preacher accepts; also, D&W Railway Co. decides to do away with stations at Aiken Summitt, Preston and Stella; 1949, tobacco damage; 1960, new golf course at Forest Park; 1974, US 220-58 bypass under construction; 1999, Career Day at Figsboro Elementary. (PHOTO: Henry Hotel, 1921 Henry Bulletin)