Day in history for February 3, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

We hear it said that the overseer of the poor has purchased the property known as the Wells place near Rock River for a pauper farm.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Ice dealers at Milan are doing an active business. Mr. Butler has been cutting about twenty cars a day. He will receive $3.50 per ton delivered in St. Louis.

1903 -- 100 years ago

``The Denver Express'' was the attraction last night at the Illinois Theater.

1928 -- 75 years ago

The International Harvester Company held its formal opening today of its new motor truck and coach sales and service branch erected in Davenport at a cost of $200,000.

1953 -- 50 years ago

There's more trouble in store for the Davenport city council. A group of about 30 merchants in the 400 block on West Second Street completed arrangements to petition the aldermen for some kind of relief in the form of protection against pigeons and other birds who have been defacing their buildings and causing considerable damage.

1978 -- 25 years ago

The local police department and a state game warden have been investigating the sighting of what Prophetstown residents have been calling ``Bigfoot.'' The animal sighted is not half-man, half-beast, but a cat like animal with a flat face, long tail and large, pointed ears. The two-foot tall gray animal was seen in southeast Prophetstown on railroad tracks just south of Woodlawn Drive.

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