Day in history for December 30, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

Some people want the mail service taken out of the hands of the government and placed in the hands of private carriers because there never was a slower or poor-paying department in government. But, as soon as the new president has time to kick out incompetents and rascals, postal service should improve.

1878 -- 125 years ago

A new pathway in the ice has been laid out in order to enable teams and sleighs crossing the Mississippi River to meet and pass without danger of collision.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Fire in the Iroquois Theater, Chicago, today killed 602, many of them trampled to death. D.C. James of Davenport was identified as among the dead, and Nellie Hart of Rock Island was seriously injured. Several Tri-City people lost relatives in this worst American disaster of its kind.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Mosenfelder And Sons announced plans to celebrate the firm's 50th anniversary in Rock Island.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Unless a decision is reached by Thursday night, the city of Rock Island will enter the new year without full-time emergency ambulance service. A four-hour conference Tuesday between city officials and Paul Penny, operator of Penny's Ambulance Service, which has been providing the city ambulance service on a subsidy basis, failed to result in an agreement.

1978 -- 25 years ago

A Colona woman has been named the first female deputy coroner for Henry County. Lola Odendahl, mother of five, was selected by Coroner Glenn I. Case to fill the vacancy caused by the recent death of Deputy Coroner Wayne Fairman of Green Rock.

Back: Available days in December 2003