Paul and Nancy Vroman, Taylor Ridge, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A family dinner hosted by their children was held in their honor. They also will celebrate with a family cruise during the holidays. Nancy McGinnis and Paul Vroman were married Dec. 1, 1962, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Milan, by the Rev. John Callahan. Their children are Julie (RJ) Brua, Libertyville, Ill.; James (Claudia) Vroman, Gurnee, Ill.; and Ronald (Kelly) Vroman, Taylor Ridge. They have five grandchildren, Jeremy, Jessica, Erika, Gabriel and Audrey. Paul retired from the Rock Island Arsenal and is engaged in farming. Nancy retired from Rockridge School District and served as parish secretary for St. Patrick Parish. She presently volunteers for Trinity hospitals. They are members of St. Patrick Parish, Andalusia.
Today is Saturday, May 18, the 138th day of 2013. There are 227 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: A large variety of children's wagons and gigs have arrived in thecity and are being sold at war prices. 1888 -- 125 years ago: All Rock Island retail houses, with the exception of a clothingstore and a jewelry store, have agreed to early closing hours during the summer months.The store will be closed at 8 p.m. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Baseball enthusiasts in Rock Island are attempting to raise$20,000 to keep the Island City Park open, despite the fact that the city has no franchise inorganized baseball this year. 1938 -- 75 years ago: The organization of a third rural young people's unit will beundertaken tomorrow night at the Milan Presbyterian Church, with Mrs. Mildred K.Wellman, home advisor, and Robert Smith, county farm adviser in charge. 1963 -- 50 years ago: Deere & Co. will begin a "big switch" on its telephone systemMonday morning. The extension numbers of all 1,600 telephones on the firm's EastMoline and Moline exchanges will be changed Monday morning. 1988 -- 25 years ago: East Moline's June Jamboree VI -- Nostalgia Days, will seemlike a '60s revival with the appearance of stars like Bobby Vee, Freddie Cannon, PeterNoone, Turtles, The Grass Roots and Lou Christie. This year's festival has beenexpanded to five days, June 22-26, at the Northeast Park complex.