The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society will celebrate its 25th anniversary at “Silver Anniversary of a Silver Lining” on Sunday, November 14th, 3 p.m., at the Historic Henry County Courthouse.
Phillip Stone, of Harrisonburg and a native of Bassett, will serve as the Distinguished Speaker. He served as president of Bridgewater College and Sweet Briar College. He is a past president of the Virginia Bar Association and a former member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. He serves on the boards of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. He is the founder and president of the Lincoln Society of Virginia and is a frequent speaker and lecturer on Abraham Lincoln, the Lincolns of Virginia, and Lincoln’s presidency.
He is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and the University of Virginia with a law degree. He holds four honorary doctorate degrees. He practices law with the Stone Law Group.
Kathy Lawson, Mayor, City of Martinsville, will speak and present a proclamation. Other local and state officials have been invited. The program will also include music and refreshments.
John Phillips, Historical Society president, said, “When the Henry County Courthouse moved to its new location in 1996, the MHCHS was created primarily to oversee the restoration and subsequent maintenance of the Historic Henry County Courthouse, hence, a silver lining. However, our mission is now to promote an interest in the broad spectrum of history with emphasis on that of Martinsville and Henry County; collect, preserve, interpret, and make available material relating to that history; sponsor research and publications in the field of regional history; and provide educational services to people and institutions throughout the area. Join us as we celebrate our past, present, and future.”
