Day in history for February 20, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

D.F. Kinney was elected president and George Mixter, secretary, of a Rock Island county agricultural society during an organizational meeting at the courthouse.

1878 -- 125 years ago

C.W. Durham, manager of the Romeo and Juliet combination, announced the acceptance of the kind offer of a benefit to be given at Dart's Hall, March 2, when a farewell performance of the tragedy will be given.

1903 -- 100 years ago

A petition signed by Rock Island residents asking that the train known as the ``Galesburg Passenger,'' recently taken off, be replaced, was not granted by P.E. Eustis, an official of the Burlington Road.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Fire in the basement of the Garden Shop, 314 20th St., Rock Island, caused an estimated $1,000 damage.

1953 -- 50 years ago

James Fuller, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Stanley Fuller, Moline, is playing the leading character part in the Shakespearean comedy, ``Twelfth Night'' which will be presented at Roosevelt Military Academy, Aledo, starting March 17.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Mrs. Ruth Nelson, Westwood Terrace, Moline, has earned her high school diploma from American Correspondence School, Chicago. Forced to leave high school after two years, the 84-year-old woman has kept her dream of graduation alive since 1910. Her class graduated in 1912 without her, but this week the former Ruth Gustafson was able to say she had earned her sheepskin.

Back: Available days in February 2003