Day in history for March 27, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The ferry across Rock River, commonly known as Wilson's ferry, is now in operation for the season for the accommodation of the public.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Captain William F. Davidson, president of the Northern Line Packet Company, was a Rock Island visitor.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Victims of the St. Paul-St. Louis train wreck on the Burlington Road near Thomson, Ill., were brought to Rock Island and Clinton. A bad fog was blamed for the wreck.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Rock Island Mayor Chester C. Thompson ordered a police war on bootlegging as an aftermath of bombing of a private garage.

1953 -- 50 years ago

The survivor of head-joined Siamese twins who were separated by surgery last Dec. 17, Rodney Dee Brodie, is thriving today after his 18th operation at the University of Illinois Research and Educational Hospital. Rodney's twin, Roger Lee, died about a month after the separation operation.

1978 -- 25 years ago

A familiar sight of assurance will be missing from the intersection of Main and Center streets after the end of the month. Geneseo's veteran school crossing guard is calling it quits. John Durack, 74, says his reflexes are slowing and it's time someone younger took the job. He's watched the kids come and go at the dangerous, state highway crossing where he took command in 1972 when police organized the band of guards at the PTA's insistence.

Back: Available days in March 2003