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Category Archives: Local History
Advertising in the Great War: Supporting “Meatless” and “Wheatless” Days
One hundred years ago, as December 1917 ebbed into January 1918 the United States had officially been in the Great War since April 6, 1917. As more U.S. soldiers entered military training camps and went overseas, the need to ration … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Advertisements, Advertising, Food Rationing, Homefront, World War I, World War One
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Crowdsourcing for Christmas
Consider a gift of knowledge to the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center this holiday season! Help us identify this circus performance at “Santa’s House” that we believe took place at the Davenport Municipal Stadium in the late 1940’s. These images from … Continue reading
Shopping Local for the Holidays in Downtown Davenport
2nd Street was the place to be for holiday shopping in Davenport, say these images from our collection, available via the Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive: Learn more about downtown Davenport shops and department stores, such as Harned and Von … Continue reading
In Memoriam: Eldon Leroy Baxter of Davenport, Survivor of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Eldon Leroy Baxter was born on August 22, 1920 in Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa, to Jesse Burton Baxter and Mable Laura Porter. He attended the Davenport schools. As a teenager, he worked as a newspaper carrier for the Davenport Democrat, … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged eldon baxter, In memoriam, Pearl Harbor, veterans, WWII
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Don’t forget to purchase your 2018 Special Collections Calendar!
The Davenport Public Library’s Main Street building in downtown Davenport celebrates it’s 50th anniversary in 2018. The mid-century modern “Library of Tomorrow” was designed by renowned architect Edward Durrell Stone, who also designed the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Staff … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Calendar, Davenport Public Library, Edward Durell Stone
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Turkey Notes: A Living Memory View
It’s time! It’s time! It is Turkey Note time! Yes, we get very excited in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center right before Thanksgiving as we prepare for our annual Turkey Note blog. If you haven’t heard about this fun Quad … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Bill Wundram, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Traditions, Turkey Notes
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In Her Own Words: Red Cross nurse Grace Van Evera
Grace Van Evera was born January 9, 1877 in Davenport, Iowa to Charles and Henrietta Kepler. The family lived on Utica Ridge Rd. and were prominent residents of the county. Ms. Van Evera received her education from Davenport High School, … Continue reading
In Memoriam: John Willard
Retired Quad-City Times local history columnist John Willard passed away on October 30th, 2017 at the age of 74. Mr. Willard frequently used our resources to do research for his weekly column, “Backward Glances” and other features. John Michael Willard was … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged backward glances, columnists, In memoriam, john willard, journalists, newspapers, Quad-City Times, reporters
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The Mysterious Death of Fritz Ehrig – Part II
Click Here For Part One It was on the morning of October 7, 1869 that the body of Friedrich “Fritz” Ehrig was found in the bottom of the cistern in the churchyard of St. Anthony’s Church in Davenport. Mr. Ehrig … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Cora West, Dr. Rudolph Alberti, Elizabeth Fritzfeldt, Friedrich W. Ehrig, Fritz W. Ehrig, James Alcott, Murder
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The Mysterious Death of Fritz Ehrig – Part I
The morning of Thursday, October 7, 1869 probably seemed like a typical fall day to Patrick Higgins, Sexton of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Davenport. The church was (and still is) located on the corner of 4th and Main Streets. … Continue reading
