Day in history for April 7, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

The proposed North-Western Theological seminary will be located either at Galena or Rock Island, Presbyterians of this region decided at a presbytery in Rock Island.

1877 -- 125 years ago

The Rev. S.S. Hunting preached in Hillier's Hall on ``The Ideals and Practical Workings of a Liberal Church.''

1902 -- 100 years ago

An ordinance chartering an electric railway connecting Rock Island and Aledo was sprung upon the city council. F.H. Caldwell, president of the Milan village board, was present to speak in favor of the proposed interurban railway.

1927 -- 75 years ago

A demonstration of a television process took place today. President Herbert Hoover, speaking in Washington, was seen and heard in New York. W.S. Gifford, president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, said, ``In due time, television will add substantially to human comfort and happiness. What its practical use may be, I shall leave to your imagination.''

1952 -- 50 years ago

Long-distance calls from Rock Island were sharply curtailed today when telephone operators refused to cross the picket lines thrown up by Western Electric Company strikers.

1977 -- 25 years ago

Owners of two lower Rock Island County farms, disappointed at bids generally under $1,000 per acre, refused to sell the land after public auctions Saturday. The low bids offered could signal a slowdown in the spiraling price of rural land in western Illinois.

Back: Available days in April 2002