Day in history for March 28, 2005

1855 -- 150 years ago

Where in the whole Mississippi Valley can be found at a point more suitable for a public hospital or national armory than our own island of Rock Island?

1880 -- 125 years ago

The rain of the past few days has made a very perceptible difference in the color of the grass and also in the budding appearance of the trees.

1905 -- 100 years ago

President Mather and other officials of the Rock Island Railway are here inspecting the road's properties.

1930 -- 75 years ago

Mrs. Sophronia Hadsell Kent, Rock Island's first primary teacher, died at the age of 90. She was born in 1839 in City Hotel, which faced Spencer Square.

1955 -- 50 years ago

Appearing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town TV show last night, the Augustana College choir from Rock Island sang ''Oh What a Beautiful Morning'' from the musical ''Oklahoma'' in Swedish. Sullivan introduced the choir as coming from ''Rockford, one of the Quad-Cities.''

1980 -- 25 years ago

St. Ambrose College in Davenport has received $500,000 from the John Deere Foundation, the largest corporate gift in the school's history. The gift brings to $1 million the amount so far pledged in the school's Centennial Countdown campaign aimed at raising $6.8 million for new construction and continuing operations.

Back: Available days in March 2005