Day in history for December 3, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The Galena Jeffersonian tells opponents of a bridge over the Mississippi at Rock Island that they could have won against carriages but that nothing can stop the railroad from bridging the river. Railways are necessary to the nation, the paper points out.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Mrs. J.R. Postlewaite is critically ill.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Officers re-elected by the Rock Island Baseball Association are H.E. Casteel, L.D. Mudge, H.H. Cleaveland and M.S. Heagy.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Ida W. Lundy, longtime teacher and principal at Longfellow School, died.

1953 -- 50 years ago

The Rock Island Post Office needs three enclosed trucks with 450 cubic feet of space and three enclosed trucks with 100 cubic feet of space to use during the Christmas period, Dec. 15 to 26. Payment for use of the trucks will be made on an hourly basis. Drivers are not wanted. The trucks will be used for collecting, delivering and relaying mail.

1978 -- 25 years ago

A massive, swift-moving storm dumped up to a half-inch of ice on the area last night, plunging much of the Illinois side of the river into darkness, closing the Quad City Airport, and turning roads and highways into borderless skating rinks. Basketball fans watching the beginning seconds of the Moline High School vs. Chicago Phillips basketball game at Wharton Field House were plunged into blackness.

Back: Available days in December 2003