Day in history for August 11, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

Congress is about to pass a law requiring payment on postage of letters by the sender, instead of by the recipient.

1879 -- 125 years ago

E.D. Sweeney was elected president of the board of the Rock Island Public Library. H.C. Connelly chosen as secretary.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Rock Island professional baseball team has advanced to fifth place in the Three-I League standings after winning three in a row from Dubuque.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Burglars cracked open the safe in the office of J.J. Hagen, superintendent of Rock Island Public Schools, but they found no money there and nothing else of value to them.

1954 -- 50 years ago

A $150,000 building program to expand operations at the Ralston Purina Co., 433 Pine St., Davenport, has been completed. The new plants are now in operation, it was announced today by John M. Burrows, manager. The Davenport plant serves 40 branch plants throughout the country. The new buildings will increase production facilities to serve additional outlets.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Students at Rock Island's Edison and Washington Junior Highs may be able to sleep about 20 minutes later this school year than they did last year. The board of education will be asked to approve a new schedule, under which classes would not start until 8:50 a.m. Under the new schedule classes would end at 2:50 p.m.

Back: Available days in August 2004