Day in history for June 29, 2000

1875 -- 125 years ago

Edward Severns of Illinois City was killed in a collision of two trains at Chariton, Iowa.

1900 -- 100 years ago

Samuel R. VanSant, formerly of Rock Island, was nominated for governor of Minnesota on the Republican ticket.

1925 -- 75 years ago

Miss Mildred Bragdon, formerly of Rock Island, won the state bobbed hair beauty contest.

1950 -- 50 years ago

Nat Cole, musician for the King Cole trio, sued a Rock Island hotel for $62,000 in damages, alleging he and his family had been denied quarters because they are colored. The suit was filed in U.S. District court. It alleged breach of contract to furnish accommodations, violation of the Illinois civil rights law and a breach of the common law. Named defendant is the Hoffman Hotel Co., owner of the Fort Armstrong Hotel. The suit states Cole; his wife, Maria, and daughter, Carroll, and members of their party were denied accommodations on June 22 when they presented confirmation of reservations for his 2-week stand in Rock Island.

1975 -- 25 years ago

Shoppers at McCabe's Department Store in Rock Island will get a very pleasant ``history lesson'' for the next year as they browse the store's main floor. The store is featuring 19 different Revolutionary flags painted by Helen Kaiser of McCabe's advertising department and mounted on 52 panels of the store's main floor.

Back: Available days in June 2000