Since we began this blog in 2008, we have revisited the unique local tradition of the Turkey Note many times over the years. This short poem using three- or four-lines along with the word “Turkey” in the first two lines has been a Davenport and Scott County tradition since about 1890.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, November 27, 1934. Pg. 7
Turkey Notes are easy to make. Purists insist a color must follow the word “Turkey”, but others disagree. As mentioned above, the Turkey Note is usually three- or four-lines. The most common example is “Turkey Red,Turkey Blue, Turkey says I love you”. Once finished, the paper is rolled and then wrapped with tissue or construction paper that is longer than the rolled paper inside. The ends are tied with ribbon, yarn, or string and the edges of the outer paper are cut to make fringe. Then write the name of the person who is to receive the note on the outside and your Turkey Note is done!
We even found Turkey Notes in local business advertisements when researching for this year’s blog. The ad below does not follow the purists form of using a color after the word “Turkey”, but they get high marks from us for their creativity!
The Times-Democrat, November 22, 1966. Pg. 7
Over the years, in some schools children would create Turkey Notes in the same spirit as May Day baskets. They would be hung in secret on the doorknobs of elderly neighbors or given to hospitals to pass out to pediatric patients with their Thanksgiving meal. Other classrooms would spend time before Thanksgiving making Turkey Notes to pass out in school or to take home to family members.
The Daily Times, November 19, 1956. Pg. 27
There are still families who create Turkey Notes for Thanksgiving. Parents and children work hard creating these individual rhymes for each person at the table. Once finished, they may be used as place cards or placed in a basket at the table. From loving messages to jesting about sports rivalries or long-standing family jokes; these gaily wrapped messages are read at the table to the amusement of all.
The Daily Times, November 25, 1959. Pg. 4
The wonderful thing about Turkey Notes is their connection over the years to family members and friends. These short poems may be passed out at your Thanksgiving meal or texted in group chats in this modern era. However they are delivered, they bring back wonderful memories and connect you once again to past Thanksgivings. The joyful spirit of Turkey Notes still exists after 130 years. We hope you find a way to include this tradition into your holiday.
Join the Scott County Historic Preservation Society (https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/history/historic-preservation-society) for their November meeting featuring Ellen Shapley, an Iowa native, architectural historian, and a former guide for the Chicago Architecture Center and the Architectural Heritage Center in Portland, OR. She will be speaking about the connections between Quad Cities and Chicago architecture.
For over 150 years, celebrated Chicago architects brought their vision and creativity to our downtowns and neighborhoods. The architectural styles and trends that started in that city of big shoulders and spread across America are reflected in our cityscapes. Theatres, banks, office towers, department stores, churches, civic buildings, homes, clubs, and a cemetery are the legacies of the Chicago connection that helped create our sense of place.
Credit: Ellen Shapley
With loads of photos and many intriguing “untold” stories, Ellen Shapley will share the discoveries she’s made about her hometown area since returning six years ago.
They include a renowned Mid-Century modernist who, early in his career, designed a home in the QC; a versatile designer who created both houses of worship and churches of baseball; sibling architects who “saw the future” for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair and later designed two QC homes; and a couple of 1950s Central High grads who “made it” in the lofty world of Chicago architecture.
You can find more QC stories at her Facebook page “ArchiTouring the Quad-Cities.” In the summer, sign-up for downtown Davenport walking tours with Ellen sponsored by the City of Davenport’s Historic Preservation Commission and the the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at Davenport Public Library.
Credit: Ellen Shapley
This program is sponsored by the Scott County Historic Preservation Society in partnership with the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center, and the German American Heritage Museum and Center.
In addition its large number of portrait photographs, the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center’s J.B. Hostetler Studio Collection includes many panoramic images of Davenport and the surrounding area. A few of these feature houses. While Oak Knoll and the World War I housing projects were easily identifiable, understanding the location of the residences shown in the image below (#dplpanoramic074, volume 503, c. 1915) was more of a challenge.
Clearly the photograph was taken from the bluffs with a view out over the Mississippi River, but where in the city, exactly?
To find out, I focused first on the most unique buildings in the image: an institutional building and a steepled church on the far right side. Here they are shown in close-up:
I then consulted a map of Davenport with a date close to 1915 (Melchior Huebinger’s 1918 map of the city) to see what structures to the south of the bluffs these could be. Thinking the photographer must have been standing in the area where the Fejervary or Riverview Terrace parks are now, I identified a few schools that might be the institutional building, but none paired with a church. Looking to the east, I saw that both St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s churches also had associated schools close by.
For a closer look at the shape of these buildings, I brought out the 1910-1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for Davenport (Vol. 1, also available online from the Library of Congress) from the RSSC Center’s map collection. Comparing the protruding ell at the back of the institutional building and the semi-circular church apse visible in the photograph to the drawings on the map, I concluded it had to be St. Joseph’s.
I then scanned the Sanborn map sheets to the northeast of the St. Joseph’s complex and found dwellings with shapes similar to those in the photograph at the corner of West 8th and Vine Streets. The photographer was likely positioned on the spot identified below on Sheet 40 as the “STEEP HILL SIDE” to capture the image of these residences.
Here is each house appearing in the panoramic (from right to left) side-by-side with its representation on the Sanborn map sheet (shown east to west and turned upside down for better comparison).
728 Vine Street identifying features: Square shape, porch and outbuilding on west side, 1-story wraparound structure on east side.
1015-1013 West 8th Street: Square shape overall, 1-story features on both sides.
1019/1023 West Eighth Street: 1-story porch on the east-side at the meeting of two 2-story structures, 1-story porch in front. The rectangular building visible in the background is likely 722 Vine Street.
1025/1031 West Eighth Street: Protrusion on the east side, 1-story porch in front.
Of the three houses shown in the panoramic, 1031 West Eighth Street is the only one still standing. This recent image of the property from the Scott County Parcel Search makes clear that I’ve identified it correctly…just look at the roofline!
Stay tuned for more information about the people who lived in these houses!
If you haven’t read part I of this series we invite you to do so now.
When we ended Part I of this blog series, Adolph and Lottie Steenbock had their divorce finalized on October 26, 1933. Lottie had received all the household furnishings, was allowed to keep the $1500 in savings she had, and was given back her maiden name of Nickelson. She returned to their home at 1940 West First Street in Davenport to continue the boarding house she had been running. William F. Pohlers, her “star boarder” as he was referred to during the divorce trial, still lived in the house as well. Adolph Steenbock found a room to rent with a family on Claussen Street, not far from his old home on West First Street. All he received from the divorce was $193.85 from the $1,000 he had hidden in the basement that Lottie had taken and given to the court to use as payment for court services.
Many were struggling in 1933 finding work during the Great Depression. Adolph struggled to make ends meet as a gardener while William Pohlers had changed jobs from Ralston Purina to a job with the Peoples’ Light Company laying a pipe line in west Davenport. By early December he left the pipe line job to began work with the Civil Works Administration (CWA) on local labor projects. Lottie Steenbock still supported herself by taking in boarders at 1940 West First Street.
The Steenbock divorce quickly fell from the newspaper headlines as October turned into November and early December. The accusations of abuse, theft, and adulatory forgotten as everyone went back to the struggles of the depression and other interests took over the headlines.
But it wasn’t over for one of the three. Adolph Steenbock was angry over the money Lottie had taken from him. While she retained the $1,500 she had stashed away in the house, he only had $193.85. Adolph had stated in divorce court that he struggled to support himself on his gardener’s salary and he needed the $1,000 to survive. He also indicated in court his anger at William Pohlers who he felt caused the break-up of his marriage to Lottie.
On December 5, 1933, Adolph Steenbock finally let his anger overwhelm him. That morning he left the house where he was renting a room with his luggage and went to see his sister, Mrs. Fritz Ebendorf, at her home at 307 Lincoln Avenue in Davenport. He visited with her before departing in the late afternoon, leaving his luggage with his sister.
His destination soon became clear. He approached 1940 West First Street slightly before 4:00 p.m. and walked in the back kitchen door. His ex-wife was in the kitchen and William Pohlers was in the dining room near a radio.
As soon as he walked in, Adolph began demanding the return of his money and a key to his trunk he insisted Lottie had kept from him. Lottie would later tell police that Adolph acted like he had been drinking. As he was shouting at her, Lottie ran into the dining room where William Pohlers stood. Adolph followed her. Upon seeing William, Adolph pulled two revolvers from his coat. He shouted for Pohlers to put up his hands and began to walk towards the dining room table that separated the two men. Lottie, near a hallway, ran for the front door. As she opened the door, she would tell the police she heard a gun shot and William Pohlers say “Oh, that hurts”.
The Daily Times, December 6, 1933. Pg. 1
Lottie ran to a neighbor’s house. They called the police who quickly responded. Inside, the police found William Pohlers collapsed in a rocking chair he had been standing in front of when Adolph Steenbock entered the room. He was dead from a gunshot wound near the heart. Adolph Steenbock was dead on the floor near the dining room table. He had shot himself. The police found his coat pockets full of bullets.
Sadly, William Pohlers was not normally home at that time of day. His job transfer from the Peoples’ Light Company pipe line to the CWA project meant he now got home before 4:00 p.m. and not after 5:00 p.m. like his previous job. The job change occurred only a few days before December 5, 1933. It is not known if he was an original target of Adolph Steenbock or a victim of circumstance.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, December 6, 1933. Pg. 1
Both bodies were sent to the Hill & Fredericks Mortuary. The Scott County, Iowa Coroner reviewed the police and witness statements and did not call for an inquest as the information provided was conclusive that Adolph Steenbock had shot William Pohlers and then himself.
Both men were buried at Fairmount Cemetery on the same day. Adolph Steenbock in the Public Grounds and William Pohlers in a plot that was purchased by Lottie Steenbock. Lottie not only had William buried there, but interred the cremains of her stepson, Walter, as well. Lottie arranged everything without including William Pohlers’ family in the planning. There were also rumors that Lottie had William take out a life insurance policy with her as the beneficiary, but that was never confirmed.
The Daily Times, December 8, 1933. Pg. 6
The funerals were held on December 8, 1933. Lottie attended William’s funeral at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. While the Pohlers family may have attended, they were not listed in the funeral notice. The newspapers noted that Lottie did not attend Adolph’s funeral which was held at 2:00 p.m. from the Hill & Fredericks Mortuary. Nephews and friends served as Adolph’s pall bearers.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Der 8, 1933. Pg. 13
After the funeral, Lottie asked William’s recently widowed mother, Anna Pohlers of Amana, to help pay for the burial plot and headstone. William’s two uncles visited the grave to see the headstone and found a large expensive stone monument with Lottie, Walter, and William’s names all engraved on it. William’s name not only had the wrong middle initial, but used the last name Steenbock instead of Pohlers. The family refused to pay for the plot or headstone and the two uncles purchased a small cement headstone with William’s correct name and information that was placed over his resting spot.
www.Findagrave.com, Photo by Tom and Carol C.
www.Findagrave.com, Photo by Tom and Carol C.
After the deaths of Adolph and William, Lottie continued her boarding house. She married widower Thure Carlson of Cambridge, Illinois on November 4, 1934. She was married under her restored maiden name of Nickelsen. Thure died in Davenport on August 6, 1936 of tuberculosis after a two year illness. He was survived by Lottie and three sons by his first marriage along with other relatives.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, November 7, 1934. Pg. 7
Lottie worked as a housekeeper until she married for a third time to widower Charles Verniest of Rock Island, Illinois on July 8, 1939. Lottie put down that this marriage was her second instead of third with her maiden name of Necklesen. She would become a naturalized citizen in 1941. One of her complaints during her divorce from Adolph was her desire to become a citizen, but Adolph refused she had said.
The Daily Times, July 8, 1939, Pg. 14
Through the 1940s into the 1950s, Lottie and Charles appeared in local newspapers related to church and club activities while living in Rock island. That all changed on October 5, 1954 when The Daily Times and other newspapers ran an article on Lottie finding her long lost older brother only 25 miles from Rock Island.
The article tells how Hans Henningsen had immigrated to the United States from Germany when he was 32 years old and eventually lost contact with his younger sister who was 19 years old when he left. Hans eventually settled in Grand Mound, Iowa while Lottie settled in Davenport and Rock Island. Lottie one day told Herman Johansen who she bought eggs from about her long lost brother. Herman’s sister, Catherine, was married to Hans and the two were happily reunited.
The Daily Times, October 5, 1954. Pg. 1
In the newspaper article, Lottie keeps some facts as we know them through primary resources. She was born in Germany, was a nurse in World War I, married a patient, then immigrated to Davenport in 1926. In this article, there was no Adolph Steenbock or Thure Carlson, but only Charles Verniest as her World War I husband who she married in Germany and moved to Davenport with. Records indicate Charles was born in Belgium and immigrated to the United States in 1900 with no mention of being in World War I in his obituary. We can guess that Lottie wanted to remove any connection to Adolph, their divorce, and the tragedy that followed.
As for the connection to Hans Henningsen, we only have guesses as we have not found evidence in German records currently online. Two theories, one is the records, as many records all over the world, are just not online. The second theory, we know Lottie lived near or in Hamburg which sustained heavy bombing in World War II resulting in a loss of documents. So for now, we can only use knowledge we have from genealogical research over the years.
We found that Lottie’s parents names were Johann/John and Maria/Margaretha/Mary Nickelson (or various spellings of the last name). Hans Henningsen’s father’s name was also Johann/John, but his mother’s name was Roth Jensen. It may be a possibility that John Nickelson and Roth Henningsen both passed away and Hans and Maria married making Hans and Lottie stepbrother and stepsister. The “step” may just not have seemed important to the reporting of the story.
Charles Verniest passed away on May 9, 1955 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.
Lottie Nickelson Steenbock Carlson Verniest passed away on March 29, 1958. In her obituary, her maiden name was no longer Nickelson, but Henningsen. The only husband mentioned was Charles Verniest. Lottie was buried in Calvary Cemetery with Charles and his first wife, Pelagie. Her estate at the time of her death was $12,500 (slightly over $136,000 in present day currency) and bequeathed to four nephews and two nieces.
www.Findagrave.com, Photo by Tom Carlson
We don’t know if it was intentional, but Lottie had dissolved any connection from the events of 1933 over the years. She was not buried with Walter and William in the same cemetery as her ex-husband. Instead, choosing to embrace her new life and identity even in death.
October 26th, 2024, marks the sixth annual Quad Cities Archives Fair! The Fair will be held at the Credit Island Lodge on Credit Island in Davenport, Iowa, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are happy to announce the attendance of 26 cultural and historical institutions and societies that will showcase their unique collections and services! Our goal is to connect our citizens with these keepers of our history and their valuable resources during this fun event?
We are thrilled to highlight the island’s history as part of this year’s program. Kevin Braafladt will speak about the island’s historical ties to the War of 1812 and the battle for the Upper Mississippi Valley and Rock Rapids region.
In addition to celebrating the history and culture of our region, we will also offer archival-themed gift basket drawings after each talk! If one gets parched or famished, we will have refreshments available to satiate.
Here at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center we are fortunate to have not just one but three photographs of the house at 1002 Brady Street in our collection of images from the J. B. Hostetler Studio (click side arrows to view slideshow):
dplx529-1, volume 32
dplx529-6, volume 32
dplx529-7, volume 32
The photographs were taken about 1908 or after, when the house was occupied by its second owner, Julius Casper Hasler and his wife Josephine Gertrude Nahlen. We are also fortunate to have these images of the couple (and possibly Josephine’s niece Mayme Leonardy) enjoying the home’s porch as part of the same set (dplx529, volume 32):
Julius C. Hasler was Cashier at the Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank at the time; he later became its president.
This caricature from A Portfolio of Cartoons as Published by the Davenport Times 1912-13 (SC 741.5 POR) shows Julius Hasler in his role at the bank. The accompanying verse makes his occupation clear: “The rustle of a greenback or the mellow clink of gold / Is music to the ears of many men…” And it goes on: “… let me tell you of the tune that Hasler likes to hear / When starting on an outing, full of hope; / ‘Tis the deeply basso murmur and the highly powered throb / Of the engine of his new and nifty Pope!” These lines refer to the high-end Pope touring car we believe is pictured in the above photographs of the house.
One fact we know about the care of 1002 Brady Street was that its carpets were cleaned with the newfangled Electric Suction Sweeper, precursor to the vacuum later manufactured by the Hoover Company.
Democrat and Leader, June 13, 1909, page 16
The first owner of the house, and its builder, was John Hoyt. He was the president of a successful piano dealership on West 3rd Street and very active in both the local business and music communities.
Democrat and Leader, October 9, 1901, page 5
Construction of the residence was nearly complete in October 1900, mere months after the 71-year-old widower took Laura G. Campbell as his second wife. [1]
Some features of the home’s interior (including a music room, of course!) are mentioned in this article from the Daily Times for June 3, 1903 (page 11) describing the wedding of Laura’s daughter, Amy Campbell, to A. C. Tobias:
The Hoyts were only to enjoy the home for a few years. John passed away in December, 1904; Laura in March 1906. The house went to Amy Campbell Tobias, who sold it to the Haslers for an estimated $12,000 in April 1908. [2]
In March of 1919, the Haslers purchased a new home near Vander Veer Park and sold 1002 Brady Street to B. J. Palmer for $16,000. [3] The house served as a Palmer School of Chiropractic Health Home for a time, as Palmer was apparently unable to find a buyer willing to remove the house:
Daily Times, March 27, 1919, page 18
The house was razed in 1920 to make way for the Palmer School of Chiropractic Classroom building. Images of its construction from Palmer’s collection, as well the RSSCC’s images of the Hasler house, may be viewed online on the Upper Mississippi Digital Image Archive. Take advantage of this excellent resource, a database of digitized images from multiple organizations in the QCA, to find out more about local history!
(Posted by Katie)
Sources: [1] Daily Times, October 8, 1900, page 2; [2] Daily Times, April 10, 1908, page 6; [3] Daily Times, March 21, 1919, page 8.
The first soap operas began as radio programs in 1930. People soon became absorbed in the lives, and scandals, of these fictional radio characters. It was a welcome break from life in the Great Depression. In 1933, the citizens of Davenport found the lives of three ordinary residents began to resemble an almost fictional storyline that could have been part of a radio soap opera.
Adolph and Lottie Steenbock were a middle-aged married couple who had immigrated to Davenport from the Hamburg region of Germany in 1926. They arrived on December 9, 1926 to New York. The records from Ellis Island state that Adolph was 46 in 1926. He was 5’9″ with brown hair and eyes. Lotte (as it was spelled) was 43 years old, 5’7″ with blonde hair and brown eyes. Both stated Davenport, Iowa as their final destination and they both planned to become citizens.
We were able to locate their marriage record on Ancestry.com. The couple married in Hamburg, Germany on June 22, 1915. Any previous marriages were not found in our online search.
We do know that Adolph had a son named Walter who was born in July 1907 in Hamburg. Walter had immigrated to the Seattle, Washington area with a cousin in 1923. He joined his father and stepmother in Davenport after their immigration and they lived in a house at 1936 Dixwell Street.
Tragedy struck the family less than a year later when Walter and his friend, William Reese, were killed in an auto accident on their way home from work on September 9, 1927. The two young men were driving home from Frank Foundries when Walter’s car collided with the car of James H. Barner at an intersection. The collision caused Walter’s car to flip over. Steenbock died instantly while Reese survived only a few hours. The Coroner’s Inquest would find the incident an accident. Walter and William Reese had been friends in Hamburg and Reese had recently immigrated to work with his friend in Davenport.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, September 11, 1927. Pg. 16
Walter Steenbock was cremated at the Fairmount Cemetery crematorium. The newspapers listed Walter as the only child of his father and stepmother. William Reese was buried at Fairmount Cemetery. He left behind an uncle and aunt he had been living with in Davenport and his parents and siblings in Germany.
By 1933, Adolph and Lottie lived at 1940 W. 1st Street in Davenport. Adolph was listed in the Davenport City Directory that year as a pipefitter. Lottie ran the household and took in boarders to supplement the family income.
It was in July 1933 that the couple made local news. On the evening of July 17, 1933, Adolph went to the Davenport Police Department to report his wife and $1,000 the couple had hidden in the basement missing. Adolph said he had returned home after work, greeted his wife, and went to the basement to hide money in a crock the couple kept hidden there. Upon finding the crock empty, Adolph went to his wife who said the $1,500 she kept hidden (obtained from rent money and doing people’s laundry) was missing as well. Adolph returned to the basement to search again. When he came upstairs, Lottie was gone.
Local newspapers reported that Lottie returned the next day to hand Adolph divorce papers and a decree from a judge that he was not allowed to be in the house. The $1,000 had been turned over to the courts who immediately took $300 from it to pay the attorneys the couple hired to represent them.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, July 18, 1933. Pg. 11
During the time Lottie was missing, a boarder named William Pohlers was brought to the police station for questioning as Adolph felt Pohlers may know about the money and Lottie. He was known to be Lottie’s “Star Boarder”.
William Pohlers was born in 1905 in the Amana Colonies in Iowa. He moved to Davenport about 1928 and had boarded at 106 Division Street with Mrs. Dorothea Ebel, a widow with four sons. Mrs. Ebel died on December 18, 1932, and it appears that William became a boarder of Lottie Steenbock after Mrs. Ebel’s passing.
Mr. Pohlers had made his own news headlines in Davenport. On August 15, 1928, William was arrested in Davenport for having improper relations with a 14-year-old girl. He was 23 years old. Her father had discovered their interactions and contacted the police. No charges were pursued when Pohlers married the girl, Mary (or Maria) Solbrig, on August 20, 1928, in Davenport with her parents’ permission.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, August 15, 1928. Pg. 13
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, August 21, 1928. Pg. 15
On April 7, 1930, The Daily Times wrote that Mary had been granted a divorce on grounds of cruelty and had her maiden name restored. Her legal status had become an adult when she married. Upon divorce, the 15-year-old was once again viewed as a minor.
The Daily Times, April 7, 1930. Pg. 6
By 1933, William Pohlers was working for Ralston Purina, single, and boarding with Adolph and Lottie Steenbock.
After Lottie reappeared on July 18, 1933, the police apologized to William Pohlers for holding him in Lottie’s disappearance and the missing money. Adolph Steenbock was not allowed back in his house though he claimed to not make enough money to support himself without living in the home. Adolph turned to family and friends for support.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, August 13, 1933 Pg. 13
The couple resurfaced in August of 1933 as Lottie sent petitions to court and Adolph responded with cross-petitions. The divorce was acrimonious and soon made the news once again.
Lottie charged that she suffered cruel and inhuman treatment during the marriage. Adolph had never held a job in three or four years, was physically abusive, and that she was forced to take in boarders to help her family survive. She also accused him of being pro-German. Refusing to become a United States citizen and constantly talking about the greatness of Germany compared to the United States. Lottie claimed she wanted to become a naturalized citizen, but could not because of Adolph. She was a broken person by all his actions.
Adolph responded that he had always been employed, but some jobs had not paid well. He never struck Lottie, but treated her well despite her nagging and demands that he buy her luxury items he could not afford. It was her idea to take in boarders and then she invited the boarders’ friends over for loud parties that lasted all night. He had to leave to try to sleep at night. What was worse, she had taken up with a man to humiliate Adolph. Then she had stolen his money and removed him from his own house. This had reduced him to an anxious person unable to do anything.
The Daily Times, August 14, 1933. Pg. 4
Lottie responded in her next petition that she invited boarders’ friends over so they would feel at home. That Adolph encouraged the parties and enjoyed them. The household items and furniture were all purchased by Lottie. She needed them to support herself. And if Adolph thought she had another man then he should name him!
The Daily Times, August 17, 1933. Pg. 4
Adolph responded that his income had purchased household items and furniture while Lottie hid her boarders’ money from him. He never wanted parties at his house. He couldn’t sleep and went to relatives in the hope of a quiet night’s rest. And if Lottie wanted a name then Adolph would supply it. It was star boarder William Pohlers!
With every petition and cross-petition, the newspapers printed every lurid detail. The accusations ran into September and then October.
As the trial started on October 16, 1933, spectators and newspaper writers were prepared for continuing drama between the couple and they were not disappointed. Mrs. Steenbock was brought to the stand to testify about her marriage to Mr. Steenbock in Germany and in Davenport. On October 17th, William Pohlers, who attended the trial and sat near Lottie Steenbock, was reprimanded by the judge for continuously coaching Lottie with her answers.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 17, 1933. Pg. 19
Lottie testified she worked as a nurse in Germany, in fact, that was how she met Adolph. She was a nurse in World War I and treated an injured soldier, Adolph Steenbock. They married while on furlough in June of 1915.
It was she who continued to earn money for the family as a nurse. Adolph, though he came from money she claimed, never held jobs. She sold some of their furniture in Germany for $300 and that money was used to purchase second-hand furniture in Davenport when they moved here. The $1500 she had saved and hidden was her work as was the $1,000 hidden in the crock in the basement. Adolph contributed nothing.
It was on Friday, October 20, 1933, that Lottie was once again called to the stand. This being her third time being questioned. It was during this session as she was describing the enormous appetite of her husband in which he could eat a dozen eggs at once, that she began to feel ill and was taken home where it was thought she had suffered either a heart attack or collapse from stress. Court was adjourned until the following Tuesday.
The Daily Times, October 20, 1933. Pg. 6
Adolph took the stand when the trial resumed on the following Tuesday. He reported that Lottie had three children of her own when he met her in 1915. The newspapers did not report what had happened to them, but they did not immigrate with the couple in 1926.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 25, 33. Pg. 13
Under questioning, Adolph talked of a wife who had become unhappy with what he could earn. She wanted unending amounts of luxuries and berated him when he could not buy them. Lottie had insisted on bringing in boarders so she could buy whatever she wanted. Adolph had worked hard to buy household items and furniture, but it was never enough. His breaking point was the humiliation he felt when Lottie took up with William Pohlers in his own house. His concern was for the $1,000 he had saved and felt Lottie had stolen. Without that money, he would be unable to start over.
In the final days of the trial, William Pohlers was brought to the stand to testify. He denied any romantic involvement with Lottie. He simply viewed her as a friend who needed help.
On October 26, 1933, Judge W. R. Maines finalized the divorce of Adolph and Lottie Steenbock in favor of Lottie’s petition of inhuman treatment. Lottie received all household goods and furniture plus the $1500 she had saved. She returned to 1940 W. 1st Street to resume her boarding house with William Pohlers as her “Star Boarder”.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 26, 1933. Pg. 9
Adolph received what remained of the $1,000 he had saved that had been held by the court. After all court costs were taken from it, Adolph received $193.85. His cross-petition charging Lottie with indiscretions with William Pohler was dismissed. Adolph was heard to say, despite everything, it was worth it to finally be divorced.
As with most soap opera storylines, there is usually something unexpected that arises when everything seems to be settled. The story of Adolph, Lottie, and William is not done. Part II of their story will continue on October 31, 2024.
Autumn is officially here! With cooler weather, people of the Quad Cities prepare to partake in festive autumnal activities such as visiting fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards. When we think of this seasonal change, we think of warmer clothing such as scarves and coats to keep us cozy while we enjoy autumn.
We are taking some time to look back to the fall of 1924 to see what types of clothing the women were shopping for. The Daily Times has a host of advertisements for the stylish ladies of the mid-1920s to peruse while updating their wardrobes.
We found some interesting advertisements to share with you in this blog. Our 1924 Polk’s Davenport City Directory listed these businesses under “Ladies’ Ready-to-Wear” or “Milliners and Millinery Goods”.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 3, 1924, page 9.
The Bee Hive was located on the southwest corner of Second and Brady Streets. Its proprietor was Joseph Deutsch. They had ladies’ ready-to-wear, cloaks, suits, and millinery. “Ready-to-Wear” clothing came in standard sizes and did not require alterations. This is the type of clothing most modern people wear.
Joseph Deutsch was born on November 23, 1876 in Davenport. In 1924, he lived at 2116 Main Street. He married Ida Edith Rothschild on January 4, 1904 in Davenport. He passed away on June 14, 1947.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 8, 1924, page 27.
The Bon Ton Expert Milliners is located at 101-107 East Second Street or the corner of Second and Brady Streets. It was owned by S. Langbein.
Grossman’s or Grossman Brothers Cloak Company was at 122 West Second Street. Its manager was W. A. Wilson.
“Grossman’s Open Beautiful Store in Davenport; Will Handle Women’s Apparel.” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Mar. 17, 1923, page 15.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 12, 1924, page 8.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 12, 1924, page 8.
Scharff’s was located at 207-209 West Second Street. It was formerly known as Newman’s. Its proprietor was Herbert E. Scharff. It was labeled as “‘A Shop for Ladies.'”
Herbert lived at 2502 Ripley Street with his wife, Carrie. Herbert was born on December 15, 1886, in St. Louis, Missouri. Herbert married Carrie Mayer on January 26, 1913. They had two daughters named Madelyn and Carolyn. He passed away on May 11, 1959.
“Scharff Buys South Putnam Building.” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Feb. 16, 1927, page 1.
“Scharff Buys South Putnam Building.” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Feb. 16, 1927, page 2.
“H. E. Scharff, 72, Store Owner, Dies.”
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 19, 1924, page 11.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 12, 1924, page 8.
Klein’s was located at 119 West Second Street. They were touted as ladies’ and men’s outfitters. Its manager was Mark A. Klein.
Mark Adolph Klein was born on March 15, 1886. He was married to Hermine and they had three children, Marvin, Herbert, and Evelyn. He passed away on September 8, 1962 in Los Angeles, California.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Aug. 31, 1923, page 36.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Jan. 3, 1924, page 3.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Dec. 5, 1929, page 6.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Dec. 5, 1929, page 11.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Apr. 27, 1932, page 11.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 12, 1924, page 12.
Abraham’s was located at 111-113 West Second Street. It was owned by brothers, Hervin S. and Bernard M. Abrahams. Hervin lived at 2503 Fulton Avenue with his wife Marguerite. Hervin was born on March 4, 1894 in Campbellsburg, Indiana. Hervin and Marguerite had one daughter named, Janet M. Bernard lived at 2429 1/2 Brady Street with his wife Grace. He was born on July 7, 1891 in Campbellsburg, Indiana.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, Iowa), Aug. 30, 1927, page 10.
The Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa), Feb. 8, 1954, page 1.
Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa), March 30, 1980, page 12.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 22, 1924, page 9.
The M. L. Parker Company was located at the northwest corner of Second and Brady. It was known as “‘Parker’s Corner'”. It was listed as a department store in the 1924 Davenport City Directory. M. L. Parker was president, F. J. Schroeder was vice-president and A. E. Simmons was the secretary-treasurer.
M. L. Parker lived at 116 Hillcrest Avenue with his wife Christine. Martin Lavette Parker was born on April 17, 1856, in Fennimore, Wisconsin. On November 5, 1879, he married his first wife, Cora Jane Clark. She passed away in 1907. They had two daughters named Hazel and Marjorie. He then married Christine Kroeger Smith on June 10, 1908. He died on April 20, 1944 in Los Angeles, California.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Apr. 20, 1944, page 1.
The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), Apr. 20, 1944, page 2.
The summit of McClellan Heights is graced by the home at 49 Hillcrest Avenue, photographed by J.B. Hostetler:
dplvm89-000463, volume 26
This view shows the rear of the house; the front and one side are visible in this image from the December 31, 1912 issue of the Daily Times (page 12):
Dr. Karl Vollmer built his house across the street from his mother Dorothea’s (built 1906, supposedly visible in the advertisement below) at 124 Hillcrest. The Vollmers were a prominent German-American family in Davenport; Karl was one of Dorothea and Henry Vollmer’s nine children. Karl’s father, an immigrant from Bremen, Germany, had worked for the Der Demokrat newspaper and later went into the printing business on his own; his brother Henry Jr. was the three-time mayor and a member of Congress; his brother Fred practiced law and served as County Attorney; and his brother Arthur had a career in the U.S. Army.
Democrat and Leader, June 19, 1910, page 3
Daily Times, March 3, 1914, page 9
Karl himself was a successful ear, nose, and throat doctor who practiced in Davenport for fifty years. As civic-minded as his brothers, he served as president of the Scott County Medical Society and the local school board. [1] He resided at 49 Hillcrest with his wife Paula Koehler and son Karl until 1921, when they sold it to Fred and Wyman for $60,000. [2]
Fred Wyman was a leader in the lumber industry, first associated with the Lindsay & Phelps Company, later the Southern Lumber Company, the Sound Timber Company, and several others. He and his second wife, Margaret, were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Davenport. [3]
Just a few more Hostetler Houses left! Stay tuned! As always, please share if you have further information to add to our knowledge of Davenport’s homes and buildings. And visit us at the Main Library for resources on the history of McClellan Heights and other developments in the city!
(posted by Katie)
[1] “Dr. Karl Vollmer, 78…” Daily Times, February 19, 1948, page 1.
[2] “Vollmer Home is purchased by Fred Wyman,” Daily Times, February 2, 1921, page 8.
We came across this photograph in our collection of a 1st grade class in School #9 taken on September 25, 1907. School #9 was located at 1921 Grand Avenue in Davenport. It was renamed Tyler School one year later when all Davenport city schools had their school number replaced with the name of a President of the United States starting with President George Washington replacing School #1’s name.
DPL Vol 11 VM89-00114. 1st Grade Class at School #9 September 25, 1907.
Tyler School, originally School #9, was built in 1892 and originally housed 1st through 8th grades. In 1913, Kindergarten was added into all city schools. By the 1910s, many of the elementary schools exceeded student capacity. Tyler School also housed the teacher certificate program for the high school. A cottage was built on the school property for the teacher certificate program students while their former space in the school basement became a needed classroom for elementary students.
In 1916, the Davenport School Board began to explore the growing trend of intermediate schools which would teach possibly upper elementary students and high school freshmen. The idea was adopted and the building of three new intermediate schools began in 1918. When they opened in 1919, the schools (J.B. Young, West Intermediate, and East Intermediate) taught 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, May 17, 1914. Pg. 15
Tyler School was eventually demolished along with two other elementary schools by the school board in June 1941. That year, several older schools were also demolished as the school district worked on building modern schools for the growing student population in Davenport. Today the location is a park.
Going through the photographs, we realized another photo in our collection may be tied to our 1st grade photo. In June 1915, the 8th grade graduating class of Tyler Elementary School had their class picture taken. Many of these students would have been in 1st grade in September 1907. As the original photo does not contain names, we will simply have to look at the pictures and guess if any of the students in June 1915 sat for a class picture on September 25, 1907 in School 9.
DPLVolume 123 dplx1212. Tyler Elementary Graduating Class June 1915.
