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Category Archives: Local History
Davenport Transport: A Journey Down Memory Lane
This past Tuesday evening, June 18th, local historian and collector Merle Vastine treated the audience at the Main Street library to stories inspired by selection of images from his vast private collection as part of “True Tales of the Quad … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged automobiles, Merle Vastine, Photographs, Steamboats, trains, trucks, vehicles
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Museum Week: German American Heritage Center
This year’s Quad Cities Museum Week runs from June 8th through the 16th. Participating institutions have special activities, exhibits, and promotions during the week. One participating museum, the German American Heritage Center, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. They … Continue reading
75th Anniversary of Invasion of Normandy
June 6, 1944, marks an important turning point for the Allied powers in the European Theatre. 75 years ago the beaches of Normandy were host to thousands of armed forces from the United States, Britain, and Canadian tasked with defeating … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Invasion of Normandy, Oral History, World War II, World War Two
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Davenport, Past and Present by Franc B. Wilkie
Davenport, Past and Present published in May 1858 by the publishing house of Luse, Lane & Co. in Davenport, Iowa was an anticipated volume recounting the early history of Davenport through personal and anecdotal reminiscences, biographical sketches of influential men, … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport Past and Present, Franc B. Wilkie, John E. Wilkie, Luse Lane & Co
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Captain J.S. Slaymaker
Jonathan Smith Slaymaker was born in York, Pennsylvania on March 31, 1835. He worked as a civil engineer for the railroad. He came to Davenport and lived with his uncle Henry on Brady Street, between 14th & 15th. On April … Continue reading
May Flowers: 20 Years Ago at Vander Veer Park
Enjoy these beautiful photographs taken 20 years ago at Vander Veer Botanical Park. These images are part of Acc #2003-09 Davenport Leisure Services & Facilities Collection. (posted by Cristina) Acc #2003-09 Box 81 Folder 839
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport Parks and Recreation, Flowers, Parks, Photographs, Vander Veer Botanical Park
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A Flood of Images: April 2019
We are beginning to wonder if we will be “weather challenged” in 2019. January started off with four new weather records as recorded by the National Weather Service in Moline, IL.* January 30th gave us a new record daily low … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1936, 2014 Flood, 2019 Flood, Floods, Summer, Top Ten Floods, Weather Records
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“Libraries = Strong Communities”: DPL in April 1919
As our way of celebrating National Library Week (April 7-13) here at the RSSC Center, we are looking at examples of how the Davenport Public Library of one hundred years ago fits well into 2019’s theme: “Libraries = Strong Communities.” In … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged Davenport Public Library, Davenport Woman's Club, Grace Delphine Rose
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A Flood of Images: A small sample from 1916, 1920, and 1993
Spring has once again brought rising waters for our local rivers. We are currently very fortunate to not have experienced the major flooding that the western part of our state has gone through in recent weeks. As we wait for … Continue reading
