Day in history for December 20, 2000

1875 -- 125 years ago

William N. Jarvis has been appointed station agent for the Peoria And Rock Island Railway. He succeeds H.J. Lowrey, who retired.

1900 -- 100 years ago

The Rosenfield brothers, Rock Island plumbers, purchased the old Crispy Cracker factory building on 3rd Avenue for $6,500.

1925 -- 75 years ago

Dr. Stanley A. Wiggins was elected president of the Rock Island County Dental Association.

1950 -- 50 years ago

Automobiles running out of gasoline are more or less common, but when two Davenport City Lines buses ran out of gas this morning a number of office-going workers and holiday shoppers were left stranded and puzzled over the reason. Line officials said the cause was a breakdown in the gas supply tanks at the East River Street garage in Davenport. It was reported that many buses were sent out this morning with near empty tanks.

1975 -- 25 years ago

An explosion tore through a building at the Clinton Foods Processing Plant, leaving at least 12 people injured and possibly trapping others. The blast occurred at the plant's Refinery No. 3, where workers were changing shifts at about 7:45 a.m. Police sealed off the area around the processing plant shortly after the explosion. Investigators said the explosion apparently involved chlorine gas or gas fumes. The Clinton Foods Plant employs about 1,500 people.

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