Day in history for January 20, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The population of Rock Island at the end of 1852 has been placed at 3,475.

1878 -- 125 years ago

The Argus noted that citizens of Woodhull were paying 15 cents a pound for butter.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The department store of Young And McCombs was closed and the stock was in charge of Stevens And Co., Chicago, adjustors, pending settlement of a claim held against the firm by a Chicago wholesale house.

1928 -- 75 years ago

The wind attained a velocity of 45 miles an hour and considerable damage was caused to the lighting system and poles last night. A number of minor injuries was reported.

1953 -- 50 years ago

For the first time in history, the more than 7,500 pupils in Moline public schools will have the opportunity of viewing the inauguration of a President of the United States on television. Each school in the system has arranged for its pupils to view the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

1978 -- 25 years ago

A federal judge's decree that high school girls must be allowed to participate alongside boys in contact sports like football, basketball and wrestling has little support among Quad-Cities athletic officials. ``I think it would be more of a hardship sentence than a privilege,'' said Gene McCarter, athletic director at United Township High School. ``I shudder to think of one of my daughters up against a 215-pound linebacker.''

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