Day in history for October 5, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

Old-line Whigs lost out and anti-slavery Whigs, calling themselves ''Republicans,'' won out in naming delegates to the Rock Island Whig convention.

1879 -- 125 years ago

The east end of Rock Island is looking up, with more street lights, new sidewalks, and some macadamized streets.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Herman A. Miller, 34, knocked to the ground by a switch engine, was fatally injured when he was crossing the tracks at 15th Street, Moline.

1929 -- 75 years ago

The Rock Island High School football stadium was dedicated today. In the inaugural game, Rock Island's team defeated Grand High of Cedar Rapids, 6 to 0. The stadium, which cost $175,000, will seat 14,000.

1954 -- 50 years ago

With the advent of automatic crossing gate signals in Moline, Rock Island Lines crews began removal of watchmen's shanties along the tracks.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Vandals destroyed 22 headstones at the old German cemetery, three miles south of Sherrard. Some of the stones dated back to 1870. Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Nelson, who is investigating the damage, said 22 headstones were knocked over and broken, one stone was stolen and a statue of an angel smashed.

Back: Available days in October 2004