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Category Archives: Local History
The Central Junior High School Fire of 1949
It was an unusually warm, but windy evening on Sunday, December 11, 1949. It was shortly before 7:00 p.m. when Ruth Ann Brasnar and Merline Frost were walking near Central Junior High (607-611 21st Street) in Rock Island, Illinois. The … Continue reading
Victor Animatograph Company of America
Davenport and the other Quad Cities have a robust and vibrant industrial history. This region saw the development of many new technologies that have impacted the rest of the country and the world. One such example is the Victor Animatograph … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Alexander Victor, Davenport (Iowa), Films, Local History, Resources, Victor Animatograph Company
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The Claus Groth Gilde Jahrmarkt
“Thanksgiving tide” in turn-of-the-twentienth-century Davenport brought not only family turkey meals and church services, but a popular event known as the “Jahrmarkt.” This fair was a fundraiser for the Claus Groth Gilde, a local benevolent society named in honor of … Continue reading
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Turkey Notes: Our 2024 edition
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 … Continue reading
QC Architecture: The Chicago Connection
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged Davenport (Iowa), Ellen Shapley, Moline (Illinois), Programs, Rock Island (Illinois)
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Hostetler’s Houses: West 8th and Vine Streets
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 … Continue reading
The Steenbock – Pohlers Affair: Part II
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 … Continue reading
2024 Quad Cities Archives Fair
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 … Continue reading
Hostetler’s Houses: 1002 Brady Street
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 … Continue reading
