Day in history for July 26, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

A $300,000 fire broke out in Boston, destroying about 50 buildings and rendering 200 families homeless.

1877 -- 125 years ago

The Argus issued an extra to announce the virtual end of railroad strikes which had stopped trains all over the country. Trains were running again on the Rock Island Lines.

1902 -- 100 years ago

The Rock Island's fast mail arrived 40 minutes late today on account of a hot box and a collision with a handcar at Colona.

1927 -- 75 years ago

Two diamond-back rattlesnakes, usually found only in desert sections of the southwest, were seen near Edgington this morning by C.H. Williams, Milan, and Fay Bopes, Edgington.

1952 -- 50 years ago

A rattlesnake was killed near Loud Thunder forest preserve by William Cliff, 40, of Rock Island. After passing the object, Cliff realized it was a snake. He drove back and over the snake, and then smashed it with a spade. Cliff said the snake struck viciously at his car tire and the spade. He said the snake was four feet, two inches long and had 15 rattles.

1977 -- 25 years ago

Opponents to the proposed location of a municipal sanitary landfill on an 80-acre tract near the Ridgewood School property in southwest Rock Island are concentrating on raising funds for a legal battle and on an effort to get the county Board of Supervisors to recognize the need for a county-wide solution to the refuse disposal problem.

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