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Category Archives: Local History
Sources for the Study of Davenporters’ Experiences in WWI
A century ago, in the spring of 1918, the first soldiers from Davenport to see foreign service in the conflict that would later become known as the First World War arrived safely in France. The Davenport Democrat and Leader and the Daily Times published … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Library, Local History
Tagged #throwbackthursday, Alice French, Homefront, Selective Service, World War I
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40 Years Ago: The Annie Wittenmyer Branch of the Davenport Public Library
The former administration building of the Annie Wittenmyer Home, at 2800 Eastern Avenue, opened as a branch of the Davenport Public Library on Monday, April 3rd, 1978. That’s forty years ago this month! The City of Davenport’s improvements to the … Continue reading
Tracking the Tracts: Researching the World War I Government Housing Project in Davenport
As a follow-up to Alma Gaul’s story “Homes for the Homefront: 600-plus homes were built for war workers” in the Quad-City Times this past Sunday, we would like to share these two panoramic photographs of the Black Hawk Addition (or … Continue reading
A Celebration of Spring: Blooms of the Past
We hope Loretta Clayton’s hand-painted/retouched photographs of the floral displays at the old Vander Veer Park Conservatory* have you thinking happy spring thoughts despite tomorrow’s snowy forecast! The conservatory at Vander Veer still creates seasonal exhibits — a perfect place to … Continue reading
The Sarsfield Guards: The first bi-state St. Patrick’s Parades
Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:30 a.m., the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade will start in Rock Island, Illinois, cross the Talbot Memorial Bridge (formerly the Centennial Bridge), and end in Davenport, Iowa. This much-beloved event is the … Continue reading
1910: “Alien” Women Arrive in Davenport
With the celebration of International Women’s Day this week and Women’s History Month, we are focusing our attention on the women who came to live in Davenport from other parts of the world in the early years of the twentieth … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Local History
Tagged 1910 US Census, immigrants, International Women's Day, Women, Women's History Month
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Davenporters of Note: African American Soldiers in WWI
In celebration of Black History Month 2018, we have been searching for information on the African American soldiers from Davenport and Scott County who served in the U.S. Army one hundred years ago in the First World War. In October … Continue reading
Newspaper Love Notes: February 14, 1918
In the February 14, 1918 issue of the Davenport Democrat, the marriage of locals Sgt. George Marsh Sheets and Louise Baird was celebrated in connection with a controversy over the conditions at Camp Cody in Deming, New Mexico. Named for LeClaire … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged George M. Sheets, love, Marriage, Valentine's Day, World War I
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National Pizza Day 2018: The Quad Cities’ Pizza Pie Past
February 9th is National Pizza Day! The first place to serve pizza in the Quad Cities was Tony’s Pizzeria, inside the Paddock Club in Rock Island, Illinois. Oscar Liske took over ownership of the club formerly known as The Horsehoe … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged national pizza day, Restaurants, the paddock club, Tony Maniscalco, tony's pizzeria
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