Day in history for July 9, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

A committee has chosen William Brackett, Esq., to deliver the eulogy on Henry Clay, the late deceased statesman, with J.J. Beardsley, Esq., president of the day. The memorial program will be held in the Rock Island County courthouse July 14.

1877 -- 125 years ago

Bob Solomon, engineer on the Rock Island-Davenport ferry, was astonished at becoming the father of twins today.

1902 -- 100 years ago

The body of an unidentified man, weighted by two stones, was found on the Mississippi River's floor at Port Byron.

1927 -- 75 years ago

Mrs. C.V. Golden of Cordova was elected president of the Rock Island County Home Bureau.

1952 -- 50 years ago

The shortage of steel has now reached a point where at least some of the John Deere factories in Moline and East Moline will be forced to curtail production. It is impossible at this time to predict how long this situation will last, for even when the steel strike is ended, there will be a delay in securing enough steel to resume normal production.

1977 -- 25 years ago

While an atomic power plant may operate about 40 years, it may take up to 500,000 years for the radioactivity of some of its abandoned parts to die down to acceptable levels. Now a coalition of consumer and environmental groups wants to force utility companies to pay in advance for decommissioning the radioactive reactors, instead of placing the burden on future generations.

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