Category Archives: Local History

KSTT: “Someplace Special”

Posted on June 29, 2009 by SCblogger

On July 7, 1946 the radio waves of the Quad Cities changed forever when KSTT went on the air for the first time with a one hour introductory program.  No one knew this dawn to dusk operation would soon become … Continue reading →

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Ding, ding, ding, went the Trolleys . . .

Posted on June 22, 2009 by SCblogger

In our Special Collections Center, we have hanging on our wall an enormous double photograph showing the southern view from the corner of Third Street and Brady in 1938 and in 1952. The two photographs, separated by only 14 years, … Continue reading →

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Socialists and Swimming Pools

Posted on June 15, 2009 by SCblogger

Most people find the building of a swimming pool to be an exciting time; waiting for the project to be completed and the weather warm enough to swim in the clear water. Today, Davenport has many city and private pools … Continue reading →

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Milestones in local databases

Posted on June 12, 2009 by SCblogger

For those of you who  are statistically oriented, we’re very happy to announce that, thanks to dedicated volunteer Janet Greenlee, the 1925 Iowa Census index on our website now includes 9000 names of Scott County residents. The index to the microfilmed Iowa … Continue reading →

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Graduates of World War II

Posted on June 8, 2009 by SCblogger

The beginning of June this year brings two things to my mind: high school graduations and the 65th anniversary of D-Day.  Thinking of those, I began to peruse our year book collection in Special Collections. The 1942, 1943, and 1944 … Continue reading →

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Riverboats We Have Known: The W.J. Quinlan

Posted on June 1, 2009 by SCblogger

After something of a delay, it’s finally looking like spring in the Quad-Cities: the weather is warmer, the boats are on the Mississippi . . . and the orange construction barrels are in full bloom. The promise of bridge delays … Continue reading →

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A Veteran’s View: Harold Labonte

Posted on May 25, 2009 by SCblogger

         In 2001, our own Karen, along with several volunteers, began interviewing local residents for a World War II/Korean War Oral History Project.  Our Oral History Collection now includes the war-related stories of 74 veterans, former civilian workers, and even a war bride … Continue reading →

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What’s in a Name?

Posted on May 21, 2009 by SCblogger

The city of Davenport was named after Colonel George Davenport.  This is fairly well known—at least to most residents of the Quad-Cities—although every once in a while, we still receive a question concerning the invention and manufacturing of long, squared-off … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Davenport!!

Posted on May 14, 2009 by SCblogger

On this day in 1836, the City of Davenport was platted and named. In order to understand the weight of history behind that simple sentence, one would have to look back at least to the treaty, signed on September 21, 1832, … Continue reading →

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We’re Number One: Davenport Firsts

Posted on May 4, 2009 by SCblogger

We felt like bragging this week, so we’ve brought out a brief list of some of the statewide or national things that happened first in Davenport.  In rough chronological order:  The first locomotive in Iowa was delivered in Davenport on … Continue reading →

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