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Category Archives: Local History
A Frightful Anniversary
Autumn in the Midwest is usually a time of great beauty and activity. In Davenport the trees begin to glow red and yellow, orange pumpkins appear on doorsteps, and crops are brought in from the fields to provide food and … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Health, Pandemic, Rock Island Arsenal, Spanish Influenza, World War One
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The Orphans of Oakdale Cemetery
One of the most persistent local legends in Davenport centers on Oakdale Cemetery on Eastern Avenue. In this cemetery is a special section where children from the Iowa Solders’ Orphans’ Home*, standing just across Eastern Avenue, were buried. And it is said that if you … Continue reading
Skeletons in your Closet?
As Autumn descends on our fair city, temperatures drop, trees turn their leaves, squirrels gather acorns and other goodies for their long winter naps, and even our houses settle in for the coming Winter. Older houses, of which Davenport has … Continue reading
Happy Anniversary to the Library of Tomorrow!
If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that we use it to share snippets of local history. We hope you’ll forgive us if we take the opportunity this week to share some brief history of a … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged Davenport, Davenport Public Library, Edward Durell Stone, Iowa
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St. Katharine’s\St. Mark’s — A *Davenport* Tradition
Tomorrow is the anniversary of Rivermont Collegiate, that fine private school that, although it has spent the last few decades in Bettendorf, owes far more of its 124 years of history to Davenport. It all began with Griswold College, which … Continue reading
Happy Anniverary, Chiropractic!
As we in the Quad-Cities finish cleaning up after this summer of high waters and strong winds, many of us will have cause to be grateful for the Palmer College of Chiropractic and their dedicated graduates who have kept our … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, Palmer College of Chiropractic
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Announcing the Quad-Cities Civil War Legacy Conference!
Have you ever wondered about the part the Quad Cities played in the Civil War? If not, you really should be wondering. It is an absolutely fascinating subject! To help explore this subject more deeply the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged Civil War, Quad-Cities Civil War Legacy Conference
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“A Monster Parade”: Davenport’s First Labor Day
“Attempts to count the procession were futile. There was so much to see and admire that all counts failed . . . It is estimated that there were close upon 5,000 men. It was a monster parade.” Davenport Democrat, September … Continue reading
An 1858 Job Review?
Reading through original receipts and requests in the City of Davenport Council Papers 1859 – 1862, we came across an interesting bill submitted by City Marshal John Bechtel for the December 2, 1858 council meeting. This bill left us scratching … Continue reading
Dreams of Olympics Past–Victor Hopkins
Victor Hopkins was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 19, 1904 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by a single mother and was adopted at a very young age by Mr. and Mrs. Jakob Hopkins, an older couple who died when … Continue reading
