Day in history for January 4, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

At an oyster supper given by the Ladies Sewing Circle of Moline in S.H. White's new store, some of the pioneer men present competed with each other in recalling the many changes which have taken place since they came 15 to 20 years ago. These are now populous cities.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Field Brothers, regarded as the strongest general store in Rock Island, is the third such store to fall within two weeks. Field's trouble resulted from their being forced to carry over large stocks of goods, which shrank in value.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Undeterred by an estimated cost of $300,000, interested property owners have filed a petition in Cambridge court to straighten Green River, which will drain large tracts and bring thousands of Henry County acres into cultivation.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Deere And Co. common stock reached a new high of $600 a share on Wall Street.

1954 -- 50 years ago

New Year's Eve pranksters blew up a mail box and a milk delivery compartment at two Moline residences. Police said they found fragments of a large firecracker at the Elmer H. Engstrom residence, 1305 25th Ave. It was assumed the same sort of explosive was used at the Milton H. McBride residence, 1321 24th Ave.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Rudy L. Bracher, who was a prime force in developing the Boys Scouts of America in Moline and served as the executive of Moline Area Council of Boy Scouts for 37 years, died at the home of his son Bernie in El Paso, Texas, this morning after a brief illness. He was 87. Bracher was credited with influencing more boys than any other man in the area. Beside his long tenure with the Scouts, he founded and served on the board of directors of Arrowhead Ranch.

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