Day in history for April 1, 2005

1855 -- 150 years ago

The Rock Island city council has asked for bids from carpenters on putting up a high board fence around Church (Spencer) Square.

1880 -- 125 years ago

There is strong competition between the steamboats Viola and Cora Emily in carrying passengers and freight to Andalusia, Buffalo and Linwood.

1905 -- 100 years ago

New Shops (Silvis) will turn out 27 locomotives this month. The prior record was 23 at this new maintenance and manufacturing point for the Rock Island railroad.

1930 -- 75 years ago

Ruth Hanna McCormick, Republican nominee for U.S. senator from Illinois, is in Rock Island today for three campaign talks.

1955 -- 50 years ago

The 7-1/2-acre tract between 34th and 36th streets, south of 22nd Avenue, Rock Island, once considered as a suitable spot for a new swimming pool, has been cleared of tons of bushes, trees and stumps by park workmen. Numerous fine trees still remain to give the area a setting for some possible future development in the park system.

1980 -- 25 years ago

Some Silvis residents are at a loss to explain a bright, blinking white light that apparently hovered between Illini Tower and Illini Hospital before drifting out of sight Monday night. A woman who saw the UFO said the light was about ''10 times larger than a star.''

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