Category Archives: Local History

Great Iowa Traditions: Bix 7 Race and RAGBRAI

Two great Iowa traditions, one local and one statewide, meet in Davenport this Saturday, July 25th and we are all very excited. The local based event is the Quad City Times Bix 7 Road Race which will start at 8:00 … Continue reading

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Myths vs. Facts: The Life and Death of Schuyler Peck

An obituary for Schuyler Peck was published in the Davenport Democrat and Leader on July 14, 1925. Mr. Peck was a well known character in Davenport, but he died alone at the Scott County Poor Farm, with no immediate family to … Continue reading

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SO CUTE!! Vintage Fejervary Petting Zoo Photos

Mother Goose is once again welcoming children at Fejervary Park. The City of Davenport Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting Family Fun Days at Fejervary Learning Center on the third Saturday of the month. Upcoming dates are July 18, August 15, September 19 and … Continue reading

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A Fine Fourth of July Celebration: 1890

As our thoughts turn to Fourth of July we are sharing an advertisement for a celebration that provided entertainment for the whole family. Taken from the July 2, 1890 Davenport Daily Times included in the day were a Reunion of Old Soldiers, … Continue reading

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Five Score and Ten Years Ago: Laying the cornerstone for Davenport (Central) High School

110 years ago on June 19, 1905 the cornerstone for the “new” Davenport High School building was laid. A parade of 4,000 children walked from Washington Square to the Main Street site where the basement walls had been raised. There … Continue reading

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Daddy Doodles

One of our favorite books in our collection is A portfolio of cartoons as published by the Davenport Times 1912-13. As the title suggests, it contains a series of caricatures of prominent Davenport citizens that were published in the local newspaper … Continue reading

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The Day a Public Enemy Came to Davenport

It probably started as a routine patrol for Officer Elmer Schlueter on June 14, 1934. It was a warm summer morning at about 10:30 a.m. Officer Schlueter, a twelve year veteran of the Davenport Police Department, was patrolling the levee … Continue reading

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Awash in the Electric Glow: Vander Veer Fountain’s 80th Year

One of Davenport’s local attractions is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. The electric fountain at Vander Veer Botanical Park opened on May 29, 1935 to the fascinated gazes of children and adults alike. The new fountain took the place … Continue reading

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Brown Bag Lunch Presentation: Eugene Ely, Daredevil Aviator

Author William M. Miller will be at the Davenport Main Library on Thursday, June 4th at noon for a presentation on local pioneer aviator Eugene Ely. Bring your own lunch from home or pick up a boxed lunch from any of the … Continue reading

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Vintage Moms

This gallery contains 6 photos.

These portraits of mothers with their children were taken by J. B. Hostetler in Davenport, Iowa in the 1910’s and are part of our photograph collections. Happy Mother’s Day from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center! Marjorie (Cosgrove) Walsh with Marjory Mary … Continue reading

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