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Category Archives: Local History
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
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
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
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
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
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1950's, Davenport (Iowa), Fejervary Park, Mother Goose, Mother Goose Land, Parks, Photographs
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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
Posted in Local History
Tagged August Wentz G. A. R. Chapter, Fourth of July, Schuetzen Park
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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
Posted in Local History
Tagged 1905, Central High School, construction, cornerstone, Davenport High School, groundbreaking, Photographs
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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
Posted in Local History
Tagged A. D. Ficke, C. A. Ficke, cartoons, drawing, fathers, G. Decker French, G. W. French, Irving Norwood, J. Reed Lane, Joe R. Lane, Nuyttens, sketches, sons
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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
Posted in Local History
Tagged Electric Fountain, Fountain, Vander Veer Botanical Park
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