Category Archives: Local History

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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From the Archives: The Masquers

Posted on April 27, 2009 by SCblogger

A recent addition to our Archive & Manuscript collection has brought to the forefront visions of Davenport drama and theater clubs. Davenport’s Friendly House was an early supporter of this creative outlet, first providing the venue for the “Friendly House … Continue reading →

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The Fire Fighting Advance that Wasn’t

Posted on April 20, 2009 by SCblogger

In 1899, Davenport was a growing city.  This concerned those responsible for public safety, not only because the city was growing out, but because it was growing up.  From a fire department’s point of view, higher buildings mean higher fires—and in … Continue reading →

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Not Exactly Neighborly: The City Hospital Fire of 1860

Posted on March 24, 2009 by SCblogger

Every city experiences growing pains along the way, and Davenport, Iowa is no different. As population and businesses grew during the nineteenth century the city began to adapt. Davenport’s city council realized early on that two medical facilities to treat … Continue reading →

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Bridge Appreciation and the Diary of Benjamin F. Gue

Posted on March 16, 2009 by SCblogger

While walking my dog along the Duck Creek Bike Path recently, I stopped on the little bridge that crosses the creek near our house and listened to the ice creaking and cracking as it was thawing. That brought to my … Continue reading →

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Happy 106th Birthday, Bix!

Posted on March 10, 2009 by SCblogger

As we could not confirm that Bix Beiderbecke ever recorded the “Happy Birthday” song, we present for your listening pleasure,  ‘Singing the Blues” by Trumbauer’s Orchestra.* May we recommend 1:25-1:40?  That right there would be the sound that lives on.** ___ * From … Continue reading →

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Just Shelved: Histories of Iowa Counties

Posted on March 2, 2009 by SCblogger

 Thanks to the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society (SCIGS), our Center can now offer the following reprints of several county histories: •      Harry Church Chappel’s History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its People (1914) •      History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, … Continue reading →

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A Davenport Landmark: The Old Burtis House

Posted on February 23, 2009 by SCblogger

Back in 1857, there was built in Davenport a hotel named the Burtis House (hotels back then were also called houses). The Burtis was built by Dr. J.J. Burtis. Dr. Burtis was not unfamiliar with the hotel business. He had … Continue reading →

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