Day in history for February 22, 2005

1855 -- 150 years ago

The Charity Ball is postponed until Thursday, in consequence of the tea party at Smith And Lathrope's new hall tomorrow night. All right. Give the ladies time to rest and then for a rousing time at the Island City Hotel. Everybody and his wife will be there.

1880 -- 125 years ago

James McKeever, who was hurt by an explosion of the 23rd Street sewer, sued the city of Rock Island for $18,000 damages.

1905 -- 100 years ago

George H. Kingsbury, Rock Island, was elected president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, at its convention in Moline.

1930 -- 75 years ago

Melvin Sims, 5, was critically injured when he was hit by a truck while he was playing.

1955 -- 50 years ago

One of the original buildings of the Sylvan works of Republic Steel Corp. in Moline, located on Sylvan island in the Mississippi River, was constructed of steel salvaged from the 1892 Chicago World's Fair. The works, first known as Sylvan Steel Co., was started in 1894 as a rolling mill. It was acquired by Republic Iron And Steel Co. when the latter was formed in 1899.

1980 -- 25 years ago

Operators of Jumer's Castle Lodge, Bettendorf, have been given permission to proceed with plans to build a nine-story, $2.5 million addition to their building.

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