Category Archives: Local History

Turkey Notes: The 2015 additions

As loyal readers of this blog know, this is the time of the year when we share our favorite Turkey Notes submitted by staff of the Davenport Public Library. If you are not among our regular readers, our best explanation is … Continue reading

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A Veteran and a Friend

In honor of Veterans Day we would like to share a portion of an Oral History interview conducted on June 4, 2001. Interviewer: Susan Carlson, WWII/Korean War Oral History Project Veteran: Army PFC Kenneth Roy Plumb Enlisted June 1954. 82nd … Continue reading

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A Fearful Halloween Frolic

Children involved in Halloween mischief has always been a concern for adults in Davenport. From outhouse tipping to pumpkin smashing or worse; adults have tried to keep children busy on Halloween night and away from trouble. The Davenport Y.M.C.A. had those thoughts … Continue reading

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Boniger’s Fancy Chicks

September is National Chicken Month! It’s the perfect time to share one of our favorite photos from the Hostetler Studio Collection, Mr. Boniger’s prize winning chicken. Emil C. Boniger won many prizes for his chickens, as you can see from this … Continue reading

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School Days: The new schools of 1940

Summer vacation has ended in Davenport as children returned to school this past Monday. We thought to celebrate this occasion by revisiting the Fall of 1940. Seventy-five years ago, many of Davenport’s students were entering the hallways and classrooms of … Continue reading

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Road Construction: Photographic glimpses of past projects

We once again are surrounded by road construction in Davenport. If you are planning on visiting us at Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center at the Davenport Public Library – Main Street branch between now and the end of December please remember … Continue reading

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She’s a Real Go-Getter: Wilma Zabel at the 1925 Iowa State Fair

In late August and early September of 1925, Misses Wilma Zabel and Gertrude Koch of the Lincoln Township Go-Getters 4-H Club represented Scott County at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Their demonstration on the making of hooked rugs did … Continue reading

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The Rock Island Independents – Finding the Davenport Football Connection

This week as football training camps are about to start we thought to look back to one early local Illinois team. We felt sure we would find a Davenport connection. We found not only a Davenport connection, but a pretty amazing national football … Continue reading

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New LibGuide – Bix Beiderbecke

Our latest LibGuide covers all of our available resources on Davenport native jazz musician, Bix Beiderbecke. The new LibGuide can be accessed through the Suggested Research Topics page on our website. It lists everything from books, video recordings, audio recordings, sheet music, photographs, posters … Continue reading

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