Author Archives: SCblogger

Once Upon a Fairy Night

Imagine a fairyland of delights only a trolley’s ride away from the center of the city’s downtown,  a welcome escape from the heat, dust and smells of summer in a crowded river city. Imagine families picnicking in the cool shade … Continue reading

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Closed for Memorial Day, Open for New Hours

The Davenport Public Library will be closed on Memorial Day. Please join us in remembering those who gave their lives so that we could have the opportunity to live ours in freedom. Scott County Soldiers’ Monument We will be open … Continue reading

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Living Memory History: The Robin Hood Flour Mill Explosion

History is full of landmark events—world, national, local— which bring people together to compare notes: Did you see it?  Did you hear it? What were you doing?  Were you there? Those in downtown Davenport experienced their own landmark event around … Continue reading

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Calling All Genealogists (and Historians): Free Stuff!

Genealogists (and historians) love free stuff. I think that’s because almost everything genealogists do costs money—copies of vital records, paying for research in some far off place, gas money to travel to the cemeteries or a great library (ahem). Well, … Continue reading

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Davenporters of Note: Samuel Francis Smith

  Son of the highly respected man who composed the   lyrics to “America”; one time Mayor of Davenport,   charter member of Davenport National Bank,   organizer, director and attorney for Union Savings   Bank; president of the Iowa Bankers’ Association; … Continue reading

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Feeling a Little “Bugged”: Part IV

 (Part I may be found here; Part II may be found here; Part III is here) When last we left our less-than-happy band of Socialist politicians; the conservative socialists were worried about radicals taking over not only the Socialist Party, but also the … Continue reading

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Feeling a Little “Bugged”: Part III

 (Part I may be found here; Part II may be found here, Part IV may be found here) Last we read, Socialist City Electrician Harry Strong was being fingerprinted and questioned by Police Chief Charles Boettcher in Mayor Charles Barewald’s office in connection … Continue reading

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Feeling a Little “Bugged”: Part II

(Part I may be found here, Part III may be found here, Part IV may be found here ) By January 1921, Davenporters were probably questioning the success of their first (and, so far, last) Socialist majority city council which had taken office … Continue reading

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A Capitol (Theatre) Idea

There has been much in the local news of late regarding the Capitol Theatre, which opened December 25, 1920, and which will be closing in a few months. We thought we’d take the opportunity to share the history of this … Continue reading

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Feeling a Little “Bugged”: Part I

Sometimes we (maybe it is just me, but I feel better imagining this happens to my co-workers too) find ourselves distracted when doing research in Special Collections.  Just the other week I came across a little side paragraph in an old newspaper … Continue reading

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