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Author Archives: SCblogger
Just Shelved– Pride in our Hometowns: Portraits of Iowa
Subtitled “Great places to spend the day—or a lifetime,” this photograph-rich book gives both historical and current accounts of twenty-five towns and cities across the state of Iowa. From small (Adel, Pella, Woodbine) to large (Clinton, Mason City, Sioux City), … Continue reading
Just Shelved: The “Lost” Jefferson County, Iowa, Microfilmed Marriages
Okay, so these ten rolls of microfilm weren’t lost, just delayed a bit. But we’re still very happy they’ve finally arrived! Covering 1839 to 1910 (record vols. A-0 and register vols. 1 and 2 with index), these marriage records are … Continue reading
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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