1924, the major Chautauqua program series; Hooker-Bassett superintendent shot by worker; 1949, local chapter NAACP offered to help Francis DeSales Grayson, but only if group they called Communist did not get involved; 1960, Community Recreation Center neared completion; 1974, amidst high inflation and interest rates, mobile homes edged out stick-built houses.

1924, Phospho-Lithia Springs Hotel in Ridgeway opens for the season; 1949, Father’s Day takes off as a holiday in the years after WWII; 1960, James Cox Jr., 11, injured in explosion. (PHOTO: old police and fire departments on Main Street, now the parking lot behind the Bulletin office [old Grand Piano building])

1924, Underselling Store reimburses gs for more than 50 mile travel or railroad fare; 1949, Martinsville post office takes in $12,590 in one month; 1960, tobacco allotment; 1974, K-Mart Super 9 Sale; 1999, nightlife at the Flying Dutchman Lounge. (PHOTO: Rodman cannon at the Historic Henry County Courthouse)

1924, 40 tykes seen at Dr. Newman’s free Clinic for Delicate Children; and city to stop paying for sidewalks; 1949, counterfeit money; 1960, prolonged dry spell; 1974, US Comptroller of the Currency turns down two proposed banks, including one by Worth Carter; 1999, refugee family from Kosova welcomed to Martinsville. (PHOTO: 1934 ads)

1924, 20+ Martinsville people motor to Danville for a huge KKK meeting; 1949, Starling Avenue Baptist Church votes to build a $75,000 addition; 1960, City Park day camps; 1974, new boutique There’s a Unicorn in My Cellar at Lou Harris Inc.; 1999, 5 B’s files for bankruptcy. (PHOTO: 1934 ads)

1924, summer courses and appendicitis operation; 1949, City Prison farm, when it really was a farm; 1960, Lucky Dad contest (great list of local stores); 1974, undercover reporter to uncover a swindle; 1999, County’s new 24-hour telephone message line. (PHOTO: 1934 Martinsville ads)

1924, Bassett theater renovations; 1949, Martinsville Safety Council; 1960. Elise Gray Minter wins Fulbright Scholarship and heads to Paris; 1974, Henry County jail construction; 1999, MovieTown. (PHOTO: 1934 Martinsville ads)

1924, reduce flies to protect from typhoid fever; 1949, bust on Mount Olivet Road; 1960, Patrol Mothers; and big money for Patrick hospital; 1974, Morton Lester injured in airplane; 1999, perfect attendance for graduates Stephanie Brinegar, Jason Biggs and Jeannine Hale. (PHOTO: 1934 Martinsville ads)

1924, Henry County Short Course for Girls; 1949, Boy Scouts court of honor; 1960, free Vacation Film Plan; 1974, Hiawatha Mitchell’s winning slogan; 1999, graduations. (PHOTO: Jobber Pant Factory off Fayette and Market)

1924, free clinic for delicate children; 1949, separated sisters reunite; 1960, Bassett Community Center opens; 1974, door-to-door napkin sale; and 8 to 10 cigars per meeting; 1999, not enough rain, and FCHS graduation. (PHOTO: Fuller Church parsonage)

1924, first ads for electrical refrigerators; 1949, how Gordon Overstreet was blinded; 1960, “How to make Pop lose weight” at Globman’s; 1974, Tommy Hall flagged down in road; 1999, groundbreaking at Roselawn. (PHOTO: Flat Rock School, 1928)

1924, Mrs. R. S. Brown is better; 1949, Kiwanis get all gubernatorial candidates; 1960, perfect attendance for Jerry Jenkins; 1974, Belleview designated, also, pageants going out of favor; 1999, seniors Eduardo Guerrero and Josh DeFriece. (PHOTO: Ayers Sandwich Shop)

1924, men MHS grads hold dance for lady grads; 1949, final search for body; 1960, Aussie hitchhiker stays in Martinsville; 1974, one fire victim improves; 1999, school out early for heat. (PHOTO: First National Bank on Main Street)

1924, fundraising sale; 1949, local chapter of Infantile Paralysis Foundation; 1960, Standard Garments sold - raises for teachers; 1974, wooing farmers back to local warehouses; 1999, Jason Turner to study in Germany. (PHOTO: GW Lester Tobacco Factory near Dyers Store)

1924, Martinsville Textile League team does well; 1949, open house for Chester Lane’s students; 1960, honor for Chevis Horne; rape accusation; Du Pont raises; 1974, six injured in factory explosion; 1999, Charity League cookbook released. (PHOTO: downtown, looking toward the Rives Theatre [at right] and First United Methodist Church.)

1924, Appalachian Power studies whether it’s worth it to run electricity to Martinsville; 1949, 103 MHS grads; 1960, Anne Jirgens blazes a trail; 1974, explosive threatens supervisors; 1999, free babysitting at MHS graduation, and Butch Hamlet wins his first Late Model Stock race. (PHOTO: Collinsville Shopping Center)

1924, People in Stella and Preston protest Dick & Willie Railroad’s intention to discontinue stops; 1949, Collinsville Furniture Mart; 1960, Workers Garment Factory, and schools’ Bible teacher Lola Kesler retires; 1974, PHCC classes include sign language and Lamaze; 1999, Irisburg School in a positive turnaround; Henry Gilbert passes away. (PHOTO: Newsman Henry Gilbert, who passed away 25 years ago)

1924, Henry County meets quota for Citizens’ Military Training Camp; 1949, funny classified ads; 1960, Burton Connor struck by lightning for the second time; 1974, MHS masonry students save City $25,000; 1999, things not looking good for Tultex. (PHOTO: Fontaine School in the 1960s)

1924, seven arrests for drinking and joy-riding; 1949, Helen Miles was the Spencer-Penn High School valedictorian; 1974, Jimmy Frith jumps bike 25-foot distance; 1999, Scott Grindstaff runs for county treasurer. (PHOTO: Fields and Legget)

1924, Martinsville Garden Club held an elaborate reception for the Virginia Garden Club, and was inducted into the VGC; 1949, news briefs included tonsils removed, a stolen ham and a Morten-Bassett marriage license; 1960, distilleries destroyed; 1974, Mary Ruth Brandt if Woman of the Year and top bassmaster Tomm Mann visits Powell’s Sporting Goods Store; 1999, Nancy Redd wins competitive $20,000 scholarship. (PHOTO: First Presbyterian adds steeple in 1959)