Day in history for January 14, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

William Van Tulle has been appointed postmaster at Davenport, replacing D.C. Eldridge who resigned.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Deacon Hawes presided over a meeting of citizens Saturday night at the courthouse when ways and means of helping victims of hard times were discussed.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The directors of the Three-I baseball league were in session this afternoon at the Harper House.

1928 -- 75 years ago

John M. Colligan, 53, managing editor of The Argus, died this afternoon at St. Anthony's Hospital after an illness of two years. He was an employee of The Argus for 39 years.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Duane McLaughlin and Carolee Mueller were the big winners in Rock Island's annual city skating meet held at Long View Park. The event, co-sponsored by the city and the Rock Island Optimist Club, drew an estimated 250 skaters and several hundred spectators.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Friday the 13th proved an unlucky day for a rural Geneseo family and for a lot of worms. A late morning blaze destroyed most of Gary and Shirley Miller's possessions as well as their rented house on U.S. 6. The fire also fried between 40,000 and 50,000 earth-grubbing critters being raised by Miller in his garage. Electrical heating tapes around the worm-growing bins apparently shorted and sparked the fire.

Back: Available days in January 2003