Day in history for August 4, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

Directors of the Rock Island and Camden Plank Road Company voted, after long debate, not to award a contract to a low bidder but to hire a superintendent to build the Rock River bridges. They then voted to hire Jacob Starr to take charge of the construction. He will be paid $3.50 a day.

1877 -- 125 years ago

Jacob Ohlweiler Jr. and Paul Rabbe opened a cigar manufactory in Palace Row.

1902 -- 100 years ago

It is believed that gypsies made an attempt to kidnap Gussie, 9-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Englin. The gypsies gave the boy a quarter to act as their guide and then tried to prevent him from leaving them.

1927 -- 75 years ago

A crowd of 7,000 took part in the ninth annual joint outing of Modern Woodmen and Royal Neighbors in Long View Park.

1952 -- 50 years ago

The Davenport park board has issued it's annual ``keep out'' notice to juvenile golf ball hunters. The board has notified youngsters who inhabit the roughs and water hazards at the two city courses they will be regarded as trespassers and, as such, can be ordered from the area.

1977 -- 25 years ago

Transients apparently were responsible for a fire that damaged a boxcar owned by Rock Island Lines. Police officers assigned to check the boxcars, which were on tracks between 24th and 23rd Streets, said they discovered the blaze a few minutes after they had routed a couple ``winos'' from another boxcar.

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