1925, court day; 1950, men who went to Chicago furniture market; 1961, Chamber’s budget; 1975, cutbacks at Bassett; 2000, oldest log cabin, and Tultex’s new loan. (PHOTO: Courthouse Square)

1925, vehicle owners must pick up tags; 1975, new lines for AEP; 1961, how Stella was named; 1975, Roses sale; 2000, J.C. Wooldridge Inc. to close. (PHOTO: looking down Main Street from courthouse, 1874)

1925, Mort Hairston falls to his death; 1950, Farmers Warehouse deemed unsafe; 1961, Paul Toms’ letter to Santa Claus; 1975, Mrs. Rives Brown Jr. explains Big Jane; 2000, Matt Ashburn’s Y2K journal. (PHOTO: Craig and Bassett Store and Undertaking)

1925, pony fall; 1950, deals at Troxler; 1961, E. Lyle Clark Jr.’s prize cow; 1975, donations for James Aliff; 2000, Men’s Roundtable, and year’s first baby Cameron David Spencer. (PHOTO: Phospho-Litihia Springs in Ridgeway)

1924, cholera outbreak at P.S. Ford’s kennel; 1950, prizes for Douglas Edward Woods Jr.; 1975, crazy weather in Ridgeway; 2000. Chaplain Richard Morris retires, and Fieldale loses Officer David Deisher. (PHOTO: Church Street in the 1940s)

1924, Women’s Christian Temperance Union; 1949, Hedgecock Brick Co.; 1960, prizes lined up for first baby of 1951; 1974, Eagle Sandwich shop and a pool hall to go; 1999, Y2K precautions.

1924, RMA keeps track of local credit scores; 1949, prizes for New Year’s baby; 1960, 1,000 local people get measles; 1974, Martinsville Convalescent Home; 1999, Mickie Martin is over new Enhanced 911 for Patrick County. (PHOTO: Jesse Shackelford’s home and hospital)

1924, call 157 for liver pudding, side meat, pickled hot feet, chip beef and more; 1949, Fontaine Converting Works Inc. provides insurance for workers; 1960, cost to keep prisoner nearly doubles, to $2 per day; 1974, organizations help James Vernon Aliff, whose family was murdered; 1999, Church of God gives use of baseball field.

1974: Neighbor and coworker Shanghai Thomas arrested for murders of the Aliff family; also on this date, 1-digit phone numbers; hazards for children, article by 5-year-old Timothy Downey published, loans for laid-off workers.

Momentous time in local history - the Aliff family were murdered 50 years ago today. Also, Christmas party for less fortunate children at Club Martinque (1949), 4-year-old Frankie Bullock’s disappointment and 1999 Junior Misses Shauna Rose and Alexis Hairston. (PHOTO: Oct. 29, 2909, Glidden Tour along the National Highway from NY to Atlanta, eight gas buggies and 20 people showing that cars were safe and reliable.)

1924, 1949 and 1960, Pythians’ Christmas tree with gifts for 1,000 to 1,500 children; 1974, tragedy in Bassett; 1999, 700 at Mission Center’s Christmas dinner.

1924, earthquake; 1949, Christmas decorating winners; 1960, more Christmas winners; 1974, Veneta Davidson and Nancy Oakes’ recycled ornaments; 1999, Steven Goff’s decorated yard. (PHOTO: Athol, house on Church Street built by Judge Stafford Gorman Whittle. He and his son, Kennon C. Whittle, served on Va. Supreme Court.)

1924, cholera in Ford’s hog kennels; 1949, heavy downtown shopping; 1960, plants close for holidays; 1974, young men die in wreck; 1999, free toys for 2,670. (PHOTO: 1970s Collinsville)

1924, flowers; 1949, holiday closings and bonus checks; 1960, sheriff’s office helps jailer’s widow; family of 12 homeless after fire; 1999, bills to help the laid off. (PHOTO: 1898 Choral Club gives Old Folks Concert.

1924, wedding of popular young farmer and attractive bride; 1949, jeweler in jail; 1960, baton teacher Patti Mays'; 1974, Sheriff’s Office under review'; 1999, toys for the needy. (PHOTO: 1930s east on Church Street from Bridge Street)

1924, new law on automobiles - registration; 1949, bob-tailed mule; 1960, train-truck collision; 1974, Bob McLachlan’s Boy Scout troop in Africa; 1999, City’s water campaign.

1924, High School Minstrels'; 1949, unsanitary restaurants; 1960, trains want to stop service; 1974, Ruth Pace and Bob McMillan; 1999, Safety Net Inc. helps laid off people. (PHOTO: Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Brewers Picnic Tavern 1 mile south of Martinsville on Highway 220)

1924: Free gas every Saturday; 1949, earlier closing, high sales for Bassett; 1974, Bennett and Wilson Realtors; 1999, mentors from St. Paul High Street.

1924, Santa the cheerful messenger of Jewelry; 1949, Santa says “She’ll love this Hoover” from Troxler; 1960, arrest for shooting of police chief; 1974, SPCA got a phone and answering service; 1999, Patrick Community Hospital trying to get out of bankruptcy. (PHOTO: Norfolk and Western station 1910)

1924, KKK “gladdened the hearts of several by small gifts”; 1949, Little Homemaker toys; 1960, Friendship Christmas Tree at Bassett Community Center; 1974, Chamber of Commerce’s high school economics classes; 1999, Bank Service of Virginia to move into Beaver Creek Plantation house vacated by Pluma Inc. (PHOTO: Jobbers Pant Factory on Fayette and Market streets, founded in 1933)