Day in history for November 10, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

Grading for the Rock Island railroad will be finished between Rock river and Geneseo in the next two weeks. The bridges at the Green and the Rock rivers are about half finished.

1878 -- 125 years ago

James J. Park has fitted up law offices for himself in the Buford building.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Mrs. Henry Kramer, a longtime resident, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Norwack.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Joseph Posateri, operator of a fruit store in Rock Island 40 years, died. He was the father of a well-known boxer Mike Dundee.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Grease which became ignited behind a grill at the Midway Restaurant, 3034 5th Ave., Rock Island, touched off a blaze early Sunday morning which resulted in an estimated $26,000 loss. The fire routed an estimated 18 occupants of rooms in the adjacent Pacific Hotel, interrupted diners in the cafe and disrupted patrons of the Pacific Tavern.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Clarence ``Curly'' Owens received almost every medal a World War II flier could get from the Air Force. But he didn't get them until 33 years after the war and he didn't get them for himself. He finally asked for the medals this year for his grandson, Troy Mader, Davenport. The medals symbolize Owens' belief that, ``If you don't want to fight for your country, you don't deserve to be here.''

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