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Category Archives: Local History
Small Towns of Scott County: Read Beyond the Beaten Path
We’re over halfway done with our Summer Reading Program for 2022! If you are looking for other activities to check off your reading log, we have a couple options for you! The two activities are “Read a book with a … Continue reading
Travel by Stagecoach: Read Beyond the Beaten Path
With the arrival of the first stagecoach in 1837, the state of Iowa welcomed its second kind of public transportation after steamboats, which first began cruising the Upper Mississippi River in 1827. They carried mail, passengers, and their baggage. The … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1840s, Early Settlers, immigrants, Mail Delivery, stagecoach, transportation, Travel
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A Beautiful Place: A Letter about Davenport of July 1842
This newsy July 1842 letter addressed to “Aunt” Elizabeth B. Langdon from Ellen Harris describes her ten-day journey along the Ohio River, then to the mighty Mississippi River as Ellen, husband William, her mother, and perhaps other family made their … Continue reading
Saluting the Sailor Suit
With the approaching July 4th holiday, we decided to celebrate the endearing tradition of children’s sailor suits. Introduced from England shortly before the U.S. Civil War, these small outfits were designed to resemble uniforms worn by Navy sailors. By the … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Alfred H. Eckman, Bahsen, Charles Dunn, Clothing, Erna Reistein, Fashion, Frederic G. Homer, Laurence B. Morrissey, M. Potter, Sailor Suit
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Lost but Not Forgotten: A Brief History of 1125 Pershing Avenue
The Quad Cities have a number of structures imbued with an aura of their time, the residence located at 1125 Pershing Avenue was one of those. The setting for this historic home was the late 19th century when the City … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Abraham Moritz, Davenport (Iowa), Local History, Peter Bendixen, Photographs
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Davenporters of Note: Leonidas W. Ramsey
Davenport residents have long been passionate about gardening. In June of 1913, nearly 400 people were hard at work preparing their properties for the first of the Rotary Club of Davenport’s “City Beautiful” contests. This dedication to beautification attracted young … Continue reading
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The Quad Cities Museum Alliance
In honor of Quad Cities Museum Week, we’re looking back at previous collaborations by area museums, galleries, and other historical & cultural institutions. 12 major area museums and art galleries got together in 1986 to form the Quad Cities Museum … Continue reading
FAQs about the DPL FAL (FamilySearch Affiliate Library)
The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center has exciting news to share about access to genealogical research materials: The Davenport Public Library has been designated as a FamilySearch Affiliate Library! “But I already use FamilySearch online from home for my genealogical research,” … Continue reading
From Decoration Day to Memorial Day
We think of Memorial Day Weekend as the unofficial kickoff to summer, but in 1868 “Decoration Day” was established by a G.A.R. organization to decorate the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the War of … Continue reading
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