Day in history for April 29, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The officers of the state agriculture fair will meet at Springfield May 25 and among other things will determine at what place the first state fair will be held next fall. We vote for Chicago. It would be a good time to take a ride on the Rock Island Railroad.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Ferdinand Vogele, 54, prominent German citizen, died today of consumption. He was a native of Baden and before coming here had lived in New Orleans, Vicksburg and St. Louis. He built the Mississippi House on the Rock Island levee.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The Three-Eye baseball league will open tomorrow with Rock Island playing at Decatur.

1928 -- 75 years ago

R.H Murray of Aledo was named secretary of the Rock Island Agricultural and Industrial Association and will have charge of the 1928 exposition.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Firemen battled a raging fire in the Pete Mannon service station in Andalusia this morning. About 30 Andalusia residents living near the Mannon station formed a bucket brigade to assist firemen who were having difficulty bringing the blaze under control.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Heads turn in Cambridge when Gary Boberg drives by on his latest creation, a 6-foot-tall, three-wheeled bicycle. Boberg, 18, started out by repairing bikes, but his interest soon turned to design. The three-wheeler was made with spare parts from three other bikes at a total cost of about $5.

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