Day in history for July 2, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

The New York Express made the 81 miles of straight track between Syracuse and Rochester at an average speed of 51 miles an hour. We do not know of any parallel speed to this in the history of American railroading.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Holmes Hakes was elected president of the Milan Paper Company. George M.D. Hakes is secretary and superintendent.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Rock Island County Democrats, holding their annual convention, adopted a resolution favoring nomination by open primary rather than by convention. John P. Sexton was elected Democratic County Chairman.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Mrs. Phoebe Omlie of Memphis took off from Moline Airport and set a new altitude record for women, 25,982 feet. She made the record in a Monocoupe plane, manufactured in Moline.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Equipment for the Quad-City Airport control tower began arriving at the field in preparation for the beginning of installation by the Civil Aeronautics Administration prior to July 15. Installation is expected to be completed by mid-October.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Thirteen years after it was formed, a trust fund organized by the late Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman still is proving to be a lifesaver for the people who operate Moline's Riverside Cemetery. The committee managing the assets of the Riverside Cemetery Endowment Association Trust this year purchased a variety of lawn-care tools.

Back: Available days in July 2004