Day in history for September 2, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The steamer Montauk, E.H. Gleim, captain, made its first appearance at our levee today. The Montauk has 36 staterooms. The salon has Brussels carpeting.

1878 -- 125 years ago

The Rock Island County Temperance Society elected Charles Skinner president and George W. Vinton secretary.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The Old Settlers Society, convening at Watch Tower Park Inn, elected R.G. Hollister of Coe Township president. Forty members were added during the past year.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Rock Island and Moline baseball teams divided a doubleheader in a series which will decide second place in the Mississippi Valley League.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Cash and jewelry estimated at $6,693.20 were stolen from a vault-type safe at Midland Iron And Steel Corp., 3301 4th Ave., Moline, by burglars who used the simple process of cutting out a section of window pane to open a lock and get in. A smaller safe, in a private office of the building, also was peeled open and the entire place was a shambles.

1978 -- 25 years ago

A Piper Cub plane stranded on the end of the main runway kept commercial flights circling in the air for nearly an hour at the Quad-City Airport. The small plane was stuck on the runway after its pilot landed without setting down his wheels about 7 p.m. Shortly after 8 p.m., two small tractors lifted the plane off the runway and towed it back to the airport hangar.

Back: Available days in September 2003