Day in history for July 5, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

Rock Island celebrated National Independence Day with a parade, orations and a dance in the new Island City Hotel. The program was marred by a political prayer. Buffalo Prairie had a parade and a picnic in a grove; 13 regular and numerous volunteer toasts were drunk in pure cold water.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Fourth of July celebrations were held on Credit Island, at Muscatine, Cordova and Cambridge.

1904 -- 100 years ago

It was a noisy Fourth. Some street cars had to suspend operations because boys had lined the track with torpedoes. Public picnics were held in Huber's Gardens and Woodward's Grove, and at Joslin, Reynolds and Andalusia.

1929 -- 75 years ago

A dozen fireworks accidents had occurred by noon on the Fourth. As usual, some fingers were lost.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Carolyn Elverd, 10, had a little talk Sunday with Ricky Paget, 2, about the importance of wearing a life jacket while playing near the river. Carolyn pulled the boy out of the Mississippi River when he toddled off a pier near his home located above the LeClaire, Iowa, locks.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Thomas Emery Dennis, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Sodeman, 1002 4th Ave., Silvis, was named the Flower Talk Champion for the Order of DeMolay in Iowa at its Conclave June 22-24 at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon. Thomas is the senior councelor for Bettendorf DeMolay.

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