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Category Archives: Local History
Friends Forever: Buchanan School Graduates 1916
The month of May is passing quickly this year and – as usual – the end of school is suddenly upon us. For many, this will include the excitement of high school graduation. We wanted to take a moment to … Continue reading
Fort Armstrong Bicentennial
Two hundred years ago this week, on May 10, 1816, the construction of Fort Armstrong began on the west side of what is now Arsenal Island. The Special Collection Center’s archival materials collection includes an early depiction of the fort: an engraving … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged anniversaries, Arsenal Island, Fort Armstrong, forts, Rock Island
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Floods of 1916: Another watery crest rising in Fishertown
Just three months after the February flood of 1916 the Mississippi River and its tributaries once again began to climb upward as late melting ice in the north and recent local rains caused the Mississippi to once again creep out … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1916 Flood, Fishertown, Flood Preperation, Floods, LeClaire Park, River Front Park, Shantytown
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Partying in Pretzel Alley
This week’s blog celebrates National Pretzel Day (Tuesday, April 26th) by spotlighting a turn-of-the-20th-century Davenport institution: Pretzel Alley. The alley was and is just across from the Davenport Public Library’s Main Street location, running from Main to Harrison Street in the block … Continue reading
Genealogy Night this Sunday! Reserve your place by 12:00pm Friday!
This Sunday, April 24, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center will be hosting Genealogy Night. PLEASE CALL (563) 326-7902 TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION BY 12:00PM FRIDAY, APRIL 22! Come take advantage of our closed library to research … Continue reading
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The Life of a Librarian…Imagine the Possibilities!
In honor of National Library Week, we searched the archives of the Davenport Public Library to find this image of the library booth at Davenport High School’s Career Day on May 6, 1949. Librarian Myrtle Dunlap discusses career opportunities at public, school, and special libraries … Continue reading
Poetry and Politics: Scott County, Iowa, 1896
In recognition of April as National Poetry Month, we look to a Davenport newspaper’s use of a famous German poem to make a point about Scott County voters in early 1896. Heinrich Heine’s Die Lorelei recounts the legend of a … Continue reading
The Early Policewomen of Davenport
On this final day of Women’s History Month, in keeping with the National Women’s History Project’s 2016 theme, we honor Davenport women in public service. Those who worked for the Davenport Police Department over 50 years ago are in our view … Continue reading
Davenporters of Note: William Charles Cribbs
William C. Cribbs was born in Monroe, Arkansas on October 11, 1927, the son of Opal (Hudson) and Booker Cribbs. He grew up Buffalo, Iowa, where his father worked for the Dewey Cement Company. The family moved to Davenport in the … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged African-Americans, bill cribbs, Civil Rights, Davenporters of Note, Sports, w.c. cribbs, william charles cribbs
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St. Patrick’s Day 1904: Change A-Brewing
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Many of us celebrated locally this past weekend by attending the 31st Annual Grand Parade. It is the only St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States to take place in two states – Illinois and … Continue reading
