Day in history for May 9, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

There was quite a gale of wind on Monday. A fine frame for a two-story dwelling house, on Spencer's Addition belonging to John S. Sargent, was blown down. We have heard of no other injury occasioned by the wind.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Mr. George France and his acting dogs, supported by a carefully selected company of ladies and gentlemen, will appear May 9-10. Do not fail to see them as they are now the best party in town.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Very few button factories on the upper Mississippi River are running at the present time. There are few shells to be had.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Rock Island bridge traffic in a single-day totals 24,607 automobiles, a count reveals.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Ferry boat service between Davenport and Rock Island will resume at the end of May or the first week in June, depending on the stage of the river. Fred J. Kahlke, Rock Island, operator of the Kahlke Boatyards, who has operated the ferry for about seven years, said today.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Pat Mitchell thinks she has the greatest mother in the world. Mitchell, 31, of Adelaide, South Australia, battled 12,000 miles, a 13-hour time difference and the whims of international telecommunication systems until she finally contacted The Dispatch and nominated her mother, Alice Paasch of 2525 7 1/2 St., East Moline, as ''Mother of the Year.''

Back: Available days in May 2004