Day in history for February 9, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

The Rock River railroad bridge was finished today. A mile of track will be laid daily until Rock Island is reached Feb. 22. The temporary depot here is finished.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Though the ice here has been declared unsafe, a hundred or more people couldn't resist the temptation to take a shortcut to Davenport to witness a fire this afternoon in Hill's block. The fire seriously damaged a building housing four stores on 2nd St. and three on Brady St.

1904 -- 100 years ago

A good team of horses cost only $100 in 1900 but now cost $400. Farmers quit raising horses during the bicycle rage and now there's a scarcity. Some day automobiles may further reduce the horse population of the country.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Sheriff Howard Gregg and Deputy Sheriff Jacob S. Wolf were pummeled by hoodlums last night as the officers quelled a disturbance at a dance.

1954 -- 50 years ago

June Haver admitted today she is dating no one else but Fred MacMurray. The MacMurray-Haver combination became the talk of Hollywood when they first started dating a few weeks ago. MacMurray declined to admit anything more serious concerning the former Rock Island resident.

1979 -- 25 years ago

People who work for the city of Moline soon will have a lot more freedom in deciding where they want to live. Aldermen voted to relax a much-disputed rule requiring employees to live within six miles of city hall in either Moline or an unincorporated area.

Back: Available days in February 2004