Day in history for August 2, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

Stock is being sold in a company, which will manufacture gas to light Rock Island streets. Directors of the firm are N.B. Buford, L.M. Webber, M.B. Osborn, William Bailey and William Herrick, all local men.

1879 -- 125 years ago

The Silver Wave, Capt. Van Sant, came upriver last night with 600 Muscatine excursionists. The Social Cornet Band left the boat to march to The Argus and serenade us.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Elijah K. Allen, 72, died in his Milan home. He served 4 1/2 years in the Union Army during the Civil War.

1929 -- 75 years ago

The remodeled Riviera Theater, formerly the Majestic, reopened today.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Business office employees of The Argus and a customer escaped injury when the large plate glass bulletin window on the 4th Avenue side of the building was blown in by a terrific gust of wind during the sudden unexpected storm, which struck the Quad-Cities area about 3:30 p.m. Monday. Employees of The Argus said they heard a ''terrific crash'' and that glass flew and papers were scattered around the office as the wind came in the opening.

1979 -- 25 years ago

An elderly Moline woman told police she watched a youth pluck a girdle off her clothesline and run off down an alley with it Wednesday. Catherine Colligan, 1203 24th Ave., said the girdle was worth $22.50. She said she did not know the youth.

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