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Author Archives: SCblogger
We never failed to catch em’!
What an appropriate motto for the Hostetler Studio and its owner and chief photographer, John Benton Hostetler! His talent never failed to catch the sparkle in a hopeful bride’s eyes, the wisdom in a patriarch’s wrinkled face, or the mischief … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Advertisements, Hostetler Studios, John Benton Hostetler, Photographs
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Just Shelved—East Georgia Settlers Family Sketches
Eighty-eight members of the East Georgia Genealogical Society submitted 317 biographical sketches of family members for this 728-page volume, but this resource is far above the usual unsubstantiated family stories about Third-Great Aunt Bessie from Elbert County. The main person … Continue reading
Remembering Patrolman Emil Speth
Ninety-one years ago Davenport Police Patrolman Emil Speth walked the streets of Davenport, Iowa, wearing badge number 13. He was appointed to the department on July 13, 1911, according to an entry in the Davenport Police Roll Call Register January … Continue reading
Remembering the Effie Afton
Today is the anniversary of the first time a riverboat hit the railroad bridge between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois. Why is this more significant than any other Mississippi River disaster, or any other time (and there were several) when a boat … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Accidents, Bridge, Effie Afton, Fire, Mississippi River, riverboats, Train
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St. Luke’s Training School for Nurses
Today starts National Nurses Week. To honor these indispensable people, let’s take a look at the first nurses’ school in Davenport: When St. Lukes’s Hospital (now Genesis East) was first organized, it naturally had nurses on staff. But after only … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Hospitals, Nursing, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Luke's Training School for Nurses
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May Day! May Day!
May 1st is May Day – traditionally a day for children to surprise friends with special little baskets of flowers, popcorn and treats. The phrase MayDay also is recognized as a cry for help (from the French term m’aidez), which … Continue reading
A Flood of Images
In honor of this year’s flooding (which surprised us as much as anyone), we pulled a few of our images of Floods Past from our Historical Photograph Collections for your enjoyment: The 1940s: This photos were taken during the same flood in the early … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Floods, Mississippi River, Photographs, weather, Weather Records
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Old Jokes: When Genealogists Go Bad
Quizzer— What’s the matter, old man? You look worried. Sizzer— I have cause to. I hired a man to trace my pedigree. Quizzer— Well, what’s the trouble? Hasn’t he been successful? Sizzer— Successful? I should say he has! I’m paying … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Local History
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Floods we have known
The “Flood of the Century”–well, the one in 1965, anyway April showers may bring May flowers, but in Davenport, winter precipitation traditionally brings April flooding. As neither the Mississippi nor Duck Creek appears to be approaching major flood … Continue reading
Happy National Library Week!
Why not celebrate by getting a library card, or renewing the one you have? And while you’re doing that, why not take a look around? Ask the librarians a few questions that have been bugging you–we love it when you … Continue reading
