Day in history for December 7, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The large and elegant hotel at Port Byron, built the past season by George S. Moore, Esq., is now open to the public. It is a splendid house and we doubt will not be liberally patronized.

1878 -- 125 years ago

To save money, the Rock Island City Council voted to stop lighting all gas street lamps, except those at corners.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Joseph Math, son of the confectioner, was injured when the Math delivery wagon horse stumbled on a hill, overturning the wagon.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Alderman E.C. Eberhardt is the first entry for the Republican nomination for mayor of Rock Island.

1953 -- 50 years ago

The perfumes of hundreds of displays of colorful blooms, the splashing of goldfish in the pool, the sight of exotic plants and trees crowding to the glassed dome of the old VanderVeer Park Conservatory are nostalgic memories to most Davenporters. This morning, Emil Kiefer, head gardener, climbed a ladder and nailed up a ``Closed-Unsafe'' sign on the 56-year-old building.

1978 -- 25 years ago

The students in the Augustana College jazz ensemble ventured into the major leagues Wednesday night and they all sounded like pros. They had a super-pro leading the way. World famed drummer Louis Bellson ``came home'' and sat in with the Augie jazzmen at a concert in Centennial Hall. For Moline High graduate Bellson, his ``homecoming'' concert was a total success.

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