Day in history for February 26, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

Enough money was pledged at a meeting at the courthouse to pay for a survey of the road to Camden (Milan) for a plank road. Experts say a plank road, charging 1.5 cents a mile toll, will pay stockholders 25 percent dividends. A team which can draw only a ton load on dirt roads can pull 4.5 tons on plank roads.

1877 -- 125 years ago

Thomas Jenkins of near Milan is near death. He was kicked in the stomach while he was unhitching his horses after work in his vineyard.

1902 -- 100 years ago

Eight cases of smallpox since Jan. 16 have cost the city $1,000. Guards at the doors of quarantined houses get $2 a day. Other expenses have been for ambulance service, supplies, and repairs to the isolation hospital.

1927 -- 75 years ago

Officials of International Harvester Co. predict that the new factory in Rock Island will become the world's largest tractor plant.

1952 -- 50 years ago

Rock Island Police have documented evidence that George Washington slept here. The daily police blotter shows George Washington, Des Moines, Iowa, picked his night's lodging on George Washington's birthday at the police station. The Des Moines George Washington shared a cold concrete floor in the police bull pen with five other transients.

1977 -- 25 years ago

Two young men were booked on burglary charges after being found by police inside Franklin Junior High School, 901 13th Ave., Rock Island.

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