Day in history for October 18, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

It is proposed in several of our state exchanges to adopt a new name for our capitol. The proposition is a good one and we hope it will be done. Let us have some name that is not so common as Springfield. Two names have been proposed, Illini and Sangamo. We like to see those fine old Indian names preserved, and we vote for Sangamo.

1878 -- 125 years ago

After a year's absence, Spencer H. White has returned from Colorado.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The Rock Island city council asked for bids for the rebuilding of the south bridge in the series of spans between Rock Island and Milan.

1928 -- 75 years ago

William C. Hopson, veteran air mail pilot who was killed in a crash of his plane, will be buried in Rock Island. He was a brother of Otha Hopson of this city.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Theft of 300 gallons of gasoline, stored in an underground tank, was reported to Davenport police by Richard McDonald, operator of a service station at 1715 W. Kimberly Road.

1978 -- 25 years ago

When he was a small child, Jon Weets' family did its shopping at Wintterlein's meat market on the corner of 17th and Washington in Davenport. Jon remembers standing outside waiting for a free weiner. Now Weets and his partner, Tom Bruchmann, Moline, have transformed that same building into a deli-saloon called The Meat Market, which preserves the atmosphere of that old shop.

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