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Category Archives: Local History
The Rise and Fall of the Hickey Brothers
In 1901, William Hickey and his kid brother Dennis pooled their savings and opened a little cigar store at 123 East Third Street. It did pretty well. So well, in fact, that in five years, they opened a second store … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport (Iowa), Hickey Brothers, Local History, William Hickey
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The Colored School Controversy
In August of 1857, Iowans ratified their State Constitution, including Article IX, which established a popularly elected state board of education authorized to provide “for the education of all the youths of the State, through a system of common schools” … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged African-Americans, Children, Davenport (Iowa), Davenport Schools, Local History, Racism, segregation
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Gordon Van Who?
If you’re new to the Quad-Cities, you might hear someone point to a specific house, maybe a nice Craftsman-like bungalow down East Locust Street or a lovely Tudor in McClellan Heights, and say, “That’s a Gordon Van-Tine home.” And you … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Architecture, Davenport (Iowa), Gordon-Van Tine, Local History, U.N. Roberts
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Second Sunday is Coming Up!
Our Special Collections Center will be open this Sunday (February 10th) from 1-4 pm for genealogy and local history research only—the rest of the Main library will not be open. Walk in through the Fourth Street door (behind the big … Continue reading
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One-Way Question, Multi-Directional Answer
Weren’t Third and Fourth streets in Davenport always one-way streets? And if not, when did they change from two-way to one-way traffic? These were the questions being asked for the last couple of weeks, ever since the Davenport City Council … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport, Fourth Street, Iowa, Local History, Research, Third Street, Traffic
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The Way to the Hitching Post: A winter etiquette lesson
For those of us who feel that modern society has forgotten common courtesy, it appears that people felt the same way over a hundred years ago: From the Davenport Democrat, February 10, 1885: The Way to the Hitching Post “People who … Continue reading
The Early Bird Gets the Moonshine
Oh, there was always something going on in Scott County, Iowa, in the roaring twenties, from dance marathons to gangsters. At times, the place seemed more like Chicago than a collection of small towns surrounded by farms. Looking back to January … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Moonshine, Mr. Alger, Mr. Hilson, Peter Bein, Prohibition, Raids, Sponge Squad
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Davenporter of Note: Bailey Davenport
January 9th was the 123rd anniversary of the death of Bailey Davenport, the second son of Col. George Davenport. And although he didn’t live in Davenport for a good portion of his life, we think the title of this blog … Continue reading
The Stockmen’s Savings Bank Heist: Part II
Part I of the Heist is here. ________ It was late morning on Thursday, December 15, 1921, that Harry Hamilton and Roy Purple of Davenport put their plan of becoming bank robbers into action. The Daily Times and The Davenport … Continue reading
The Stockmen’s Savings Bank Heist: Part I
December 1921 was not looking to be a merry holiday for many people in Davenport and Scott County. The country was struggling to get out of a sharp recession that had begun in 1920. Times were tough and jobs were … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Bank Heist, Bank Robbers, Harry Hamilton, Iowa, John Looney, Long Grove, R. K. Brownlie, Rock Island News, Roy Purpell, Roy Purple, Stockmens Savings Bank
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