1924, suggestions by Mattie Rogers Smith and Helen Nance; 1949, 2-way radios for police; 1960, Buddy Gregory’s letter to Santa; 1974, comprehensive plan for Martinsville; 1999, JC Penney Outlet Store. (PHOTO: 1905 view of courthouse from Bridge and Church streets.)

1924, more manners; 1949, first worker death at Philpott Dam; new convent for Myrtle Road; 1960, Community Rec Center classes; 1974, Greyhound buses back; 1999, Christmas Parade. (PHOTO: 1951 burning of Banner Warehouse, in area where Black Box Theatre is now. You can see the former county administration building, where museum annex now is)

1924, new building on Fayette; 1949, Christmas Seals sale; 1960, Christmas Cheer organizers worried; 1974, Franck tiebreaker on bingo permit; 1999, SPCA supports Christmas Cheer. (PHOTO: Williams Store in the Pythian Building)

1924, “The Flapper Grandmother”; 1949, women plan blood drive; 1960, telegraph from Santa Claus; 1974, Fieldale Mill closes for week; 1999, free Thanksgiving meals at The Gallery, Sportsman’s Club, Fontaine Baptist Church, Santa Fe Southwest Grill.

1924, more manners; 1949, housing developments for Fieldale-Collinsville area; 1960, Frank’s Food Fair; 1974, FNB of Bassett; 1999, Dr. Epes at Southeastern Eye Center. (PHOTO: Two women in front of Hotel Stevens)

1924, Better Manners Week; 1949, churches unite for Thanksgiving services; 1960, milestone train rides; 1974, Tayor’s Supermarket; 1999, new paint and ink plant. (PHOTO: Thomas Block, along Main Street from Bridge to Walnut, with Smiths Hardware, Putzels Grocery Store, Gregorys Confectionery, Lavider Store and Thomas Law Office at later home of Kearfott Drug Store.)

1924, church ladies sell pies, cakes, dressed rabbits, squirrels, celery and more; 1949, Virginia-Carolina Flying Service; 1960, City electric lines disturbing local TV and radio reception; 1974, American Furniture Co. lays off 10% of workers; 1999, Sanville Utilities owner faces federal charges. (PHOTO: The Henry Hotel was home to many a visiting salesmen.)

1924, toy ads; 1949, quail flee dogs at first day of hunting season; 1960, Martinsville Machine Works makes new machine for furniture industry; 1974, Hop-In Market robbed; 1999, contemporary worship at Smith UMC.

1924, KKK march through town; 1949, test for new Smith River bridge; 1960, Pony League baseball; 1974, John Crews, Al Ramsey and Ebb Williams on TV from Caesar’s Palace; 1999, Cindy Lucas’s Top-Toe Designer Resale Shoes. (PHOTO: Telephone pole installer Tuck Fontaine on top of a telephone pole in 1903. The Setback Building, home to the law offices of Gravely and Carter and dentist C.T. Womack, is at right.)

1924, Moore’s Interstate Bus Line; 1949, first trip to dentist at 96; 1960, Judd Schreibfeder’s acting career; 1974, Christmas Club prizes; 1999, MURA and Gateway Streetscape sell Christmas decorations. (PHOTO: Sinclair Gasoline station was started by Henry Sinclair in 1916)

1924, “if you hesitate to follow their signals they may have to Ku Klux you”; 1949, new garbage machine for dump in Chatham Heights; 1960, attention for new MHS gym; 1974, “The Loan Arranger”; 1999, school computer labs open at night for parents to learn.

1924, Christian, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches share revival; 1949, final fundraising for hospital for black patients; 1960, 8-year-old shooting champ; 1974, Bob White’s Chevyland; 1999, bankruptcy for Patrick Community Hospital. (PHOTO: Post Office on Church Street, with a clock and a newsstand at the corner opposite, in 1953)

1924, new Studebaker; 1949, 4,501 customers for city electricity; 1960, Globman’s Toyland; 1974, new pollution controls for 18 industries; 1999, death of Martinsville Speedway founder.

1924, first day of Hooker-Bassett Furniture Co.; 1949, Santa’s flight plans; 1960, consumers’ opinions; 1974, crimes against taxi drivers; 1999, $5 Christmas trees.

1924, huge public KKK event in town, with lit 30-foot cross; 1949, Red Scare affects Martinsville Seven appeal possibilities; 1960, field trip across state; 1974, $9 million in tobacco sales; 1999, Joy Shumate and Cathy Spencer honored. (PHOTO: Martinsville Canning Plant, where people canned their own fruits and vegetables.)

1924, Patrick County produces 14,700 barrels of apples; 1949, Whittle’s and Shackelford’s champion bulls; 1960, painter J.W. Hubbard; 1900, investigation of Sanville Utilities. (PHOTO: Looking down on Courthouse Square from the Kearfott Building, early 1900s)

1924, Legionaires celebrate Armistice; 1949, citywide heating inspection; 1960, Peaks of Otter District Ruritans; 1974, Busy Bee owner does not want to leave; 1999, Ashmore Sportswear closes. (PHOTO: Laying the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple on the corner of Bridge and Church streets in 1914. Hamilton Hotel is in background.)

1924, big Armistice Day parade; 1949, Martinsville dairy businesses; 1960, Billy Joe Saunders, 8, is shooting champion; 1974, Brig. Gen. Richard Prillaman; 1999, Jessie Hairston saved by cousin Loretta Hairston. (PHOTO: Inside Kearfott's Drug Store)

1924, promises from 200 men after inspirational revival; 1949, 140 men first workers at dam; 1960, church women cook lunch for businessmen; 1974, probation home for girls'; 1999, artist David Yeaman’s library donated. (PHOTO: Hundley's Livery Stable on the corner of Main Street and Ford Street, near Public Square.)

1924, fire at Piedmont Christian Institute; 1949, construction begins on Philpott Dam; 1960, Christmas gifts from Troxler’s and Nathan’s; 1974, keys to new county jail; 1999, Blue Ridge Regional Library gets computerized. (PHOTO: Martinsville’s first service station, Eggleston Motor Co.)