Day in history for July 17, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

Martin O. Walker has contracted to carry the mail, by means of horses and riders, the hundred miles between Rock Island and Galena three times a week for $4,990 a year. All routes are now contracted for and not another county in Illinois is as well equipped with mail facilities.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Michael Lenahan, whose feed store burned recently, has resumed business at 15th St. and 6th Ave.

1904 -- 100 years ago

The Iowa and Illinois Central Medical Association elected Dr. E.S. Gilbert, Geneseo, president and Dr. F.H. First, Rock Island, secretary

1929 -- 75 years ago

Milan is cleaning up after its third flood in nine days and is counting the damage in thousands of dollars. Two-thirds of the town suffered some loss.

1954 -- 50 years ago

David Romont, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Romont, 1011 4th St., Rock Island, and Dennis Freed, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Freed, 1804 4th St., Rock Island, caught a 24 1/2 pound hardshell turtle in a slough near Sunset Park. They baited a line with a chunk of meat and caught the turtle with a net when it got close to shore.

1979 -- 25 years ago

The villages of Erie and Hampton are among about 40 applicants for an Illinois Department of Conservation grant to build docking facilities in their towns. Grant applications total $4.8 million, and the Department of Conservation has $1.2 million available this year.

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