The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society opened the doors of its new annex Sept. 6, inviting the community to step into a space filled with rare antiques, unusual artifacts and the passion of two people determined to preserve history.
The annex showcases the extraordinary collection of Dr. Mervin and Virginia King, longtime supporters of the museum who wanted to ensure their treasures could be shared with the public. Inside, visitors are greeted with everything from toys and steam engines to rifles, Indian artifacts and delicate pieces of ivory.
“This is mostly the collection of Virginia and Dr. Mervin King. They built this building for them to show off their collection,” said volunteer Jack Stewart. “We have a wide array of displays here. Not just toys, but steam engines and rifles, Indian artifacts, ivory.”
The opening felt more like a celebration than a ceremony. Families played games, children enjoyed activities, and a food truck set up outside while people wandered through the glass cases filled with history. Admission for kids was free, underscoring the society’s goal of making the experience accessible to the next generation.
Stewart said none of it would have been possible without Dr. King’s relentless energy.
“He was like an energetic rabbit,” Stewart said. “He was in here every day, working on this. He’s got just a good eye for displaying.”
The annex’s artifacts are preserved behind ActivWall glass, giving visitors a clear view of the collection while protecting its delicate details. Stewart said his personal favorites are the woodworking pieces.
“It was all done by hand, whether it was one piece or several pieces to make the crown molding. It was all done by hand,” he said.
For Stewart, who moved to the area from a large city in Pennsylvania, the annex represents something remarkable.
“Our museum was not one tenth of what we have here,” he said. “And our population of the city I came from was 10 times more than what we have in this whole county. So, this is not just a local, this is a big attraction.”
He added that Martinsville’s reputation for being small and quiet doesn’t reflect what it truly offers.
“Martinsville is a small community but a growing community. Martinsville’s got the friendliest people,” Stewart said. “A lot of people say there’s nothing to do in Martinsville. Well, if you’re into hiking, there’s all kinds of trails. There’s beautiful mountains in this area. We have the natural history museum, we have an art museum, and now we have the historical museum here.”
For Dr. King, seeing the annex open to the public was both a personal milestone and a gift to the community.
“That’s good for everybody. That’s for everybody in the whole community,” he said. “Gotta eat, gotta sleep, gotta like that. It’s fantastic.”
King also stressed the larger role the annex could play in the region. Tourism, he said, is one of Virginia’s fastest-growing industries—and museums like this one are a powerful draw.
Now, with the annex open, the Historical Society has given Martinsville not just another museum, but a place where history comes alive through carefully chosen displays and the dedication of those who believe in its value.
