Day in history for September 5, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The Argus said picnics should consist of just two people. At large picnics Miss Stubbs is sure to become offended because some Miss Fanny was heard to call the Stubbs bonnet ``an awful fright,'' and Miss Smithers goes into the sulks because that ``brazen hussy'' Miss Dusenberry is so ``lost to shame'' as to wander off alone with her beau.

1878 -- 125 years ago

John J. Parks was elected president of the Rodman Rifles, the Rock Island Guard Company.

1903 -- 100 years ago

George W. McCaskrin, Rock Island attorney, announced himself as an independent candidate for governor of Illinois.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Lawrence Frankel won the caddy golf championship at Black Hawk Hills Country Club.

1953 -- 50 years ago

A thief with an appetite for chicken was being hunted by Moline police. Chicken Delight, 1900 16th St., reported that their place has been burglarized numerous times in the past several weeks and from one to as many as six orders of chicken have been taken on each visit.

1978 -- 25 years ago

The lure of country living and a much-praised school district are expected to draw nearly 4,000 persons into eight Upper Rock Island County housing developments in the next ten years. If those figures prove accurate, enrollment in the Riverdale school district, which contains all eight developments, would swell by more than 1,300 students, doubling present enrollment.

Back: Available days in September 2003