Day in history for December 23, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

Lt. Davenport arrived at Savanna on Wednesday. The news says the Cuban difficulty having been settled, he is to resume command of the Cherokee or Crescent City.

1877 -- 125 years ago

Man who offered team and carriage for sale for $150 at Evans' livery stable is suspected of theft. Authorities learn he stole them from Christian Hartwig, a farmer near Davenport.

1902 -- 100 years ago

W.H. Allum is elected president and Leo Vermere treasurer of the Journeymen Barbers' Union.

1927 -- 75 years ago

One thousand dollars is posted by family for capture of murderers of Charles F. Bladel.

1952 -- 50 years ago

Walter Beuse, who is Davenport's acting postmaster this holiday season, and also official Santa Claus for the city, is finding his desk piling up with letters to St. Nick. ``I've received a lot of unusual requests, but one last week topped them all. One little girl actually wrote to Santa Claus asking for a baby brother to play with.''

1977 -- 25 years ago

The Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warned the public to stay off the ice on the Mississippi River. Towboat and barge traffic breaks up the ice in the river channel and warmer weather this week will make the present river ice cover unsafe. The public is especially warned not to drive cars, trucks and motorcycles onto the ice, as the weight of the vehicle could break through the ice cover.

Back: Available days in December 2002