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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

Moline Daily Dispatch
Monday, September 13, 1915, page 2

Three have Narrow Escape from Death

Roger Peterson, Former Football Star, and Companions Fall into River

Waves Overturn Canoe

Rough Waters Proves Too Great an Obstacle tor Frail Craft— Are Rescued by Launch

          Roger Peterson, former Moline High School football star, living at 712 Fourth street, and two companions, Prof. Anton Udden of Augustana college and Melvin Anderson, a Rock Island boy, escaped death in the Mississippi Sunday afternoon by narrow margin. Their canoe was capsized by the enormous waves off Campbell’s Island and the three men struggled against big odds until a launch went to their rescue.

          The trio left Eighteenth street early in the afternoon, intending to paddle to the island resort and back. Condition of the placid slough did not indicate rough water and until the head of the wing dam was reached the men encountered no difficult paddling.

          They crossed to the Iowa shore, portaged over the lateral dam opposite Dynamic island and headed for their desired landing place.

Strike High Waves

          Waves were more than three feet high in the channel and the three were forced to battle to make progress.  When a quarter of  a mile upstream from Dynamite Island, an exceptionally strong wave caught their frail craft, tossed it about for a moment as it rode the creat and whipped it, bottom up, into its trough.

Cries Bring Aid

          Their frantic shouts for help reached the shore because of the high wind. Men in skiffs and canoes made towards the three heads bobbing in the water, ut a launch, the Necasa, with J.C. Lang and Harold Brown in the hero roles, sped to the rescue and arrived first.

          The men were lifted, dripping, into the launch and their canoe was towed ashore. Examination proved that some of the wearing apparel, including the Peterson’s and Udden’s coats, was lost during their harrowing experience.

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

Moline Evening Mail and Journal
Monday, September 9, 1912, page 3

Inspector to Check Wasters of Water

Commissioner Jahns tells Council, the People are Practicing Extravagance

To Curtail Sprinkling

Ask that Sprinklink System of Last Summer be Observed During Hot Weather

            Commissioner Jahns who has charge of the waterworks today at the  council meeting announced that again there is evidence of much waste of city water.  In fact, he suggested that if the waste could be checked in any other way, that an inspector be appointed whose duty it would be to patrol the city and report citizens who are found violating the city regulations.
            He further asks the people of Moline to observe the sprinkling schedule of last summer during hot weather.  He says in part
            “The long, dry hot spell has so far increased the use of water that the demand is again in excess of the filtering capacity of the waterworks.  There is no doubt that if the use of water were confined to necessary or even useful purposes, there would be sufficient to supply all requirements. But luxury, extravagance and waste takes a great, if not the larger portion of our pumpage and from that cause many persons are deprived from water for absolutely necessary and useful purposes.
            “Many persons are innocently or thoughtlessly causing this shortage by misuse of water and it is to be hoped that this reminder will induce them to check their extravagant uses for unless they do, there will either continue to be a shortage or the city muse revert to the practice of former years of pumping raw, unfiltered water, with all of its consequent dangers of typhoid and other diseases.  In addition to positive waste through fixtures leaking or allowed to run, extravagant use is another reason of shortage and from sprinkling is perhaps the greatest, and it is requested that it be limited as was done last summer to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings on the Hill, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings down town, and that all citizens cooperate in every way to enable our filtered water supply to meet its necessary uses and thereby protect the health and welfare of our people.”

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(How to) VOTE!

Photo by Morning Brew on Unsplash

Voting is important! But you already know that.

What you might not know is how and/or where to vote this year.

In the past, the Moline Public Library has been an early voter center and offered voter registration services. Unfortunately, because of a restrictions to services due to COVID-19 we will not be able to offer those services this year but we still want to encourage people to vote!

You can still vote on Election Day, but people are being encouraged to vote by mail or to take advantage of early voting to help avoid exposure to large groups.

VOTE BY MAIL

Voting by mail is an easy and secure option for voters and you can request a vote by mail ballot online, through the mail, or in person.

The County Clerk mailed an Application to Vote By Mail to all Rock Island County registered voters on August 1, 2020. If you are a registered voter and did not receive an application or need another one you can download the Application for a Vote-by-Mail ballot here, or pick up the application in person at the County Clerk’s Office, or call 309-786-8683 to have the application mailed to you.

EARLY VOTING

County Clerk’s Office, 1504 3rd Ave, Rock Island

September 24 – October 16
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

October 19 – November 2  

Monday – FridaySaturdays(Oct.24 & 31)Sundays (Oct.25 & Nov.1)
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Western Illinois University, 3300 River Drive, Moline

October 19 – October 30
Monday – Friday
11:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m.

***There will be no other offsite locations this election

For more information about voting this election:

ELECTIONS HOME PAGE: ROCK IS LAND COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

Moline Review Dispatch
Friday, September 4, 1903, page 2

Attendance Up to High Water Mark

Total of 326 Pupils at High School with Prospect of Almost 400 When More come at Christmas

Prospects of Athletics

Principal Thomas and Mr. Campbell to Look After This Feature—Mr. Campbell’s Record

To the strains of America, this fall term of the Moline High School was ushered in last Monday.  Considering that both the superintendent and principal are strangers the order in the halls and class rooms spoke well for the students.
An incoming class of fifty-five swelled the attendance to 326, against 280 a year ago. Last spring the enrollment was 364, indicating that many pupils enter school in the middle of the year, and there are now large eighth grade classes to enter at Christmas.
Except for a few yells and the usual confusion at opening, the order was excellent. Principal Thomas in his talk to students, said he expected some confusion just now, but anticipated a happy and harmonious year. Four new teachers are in the corps, all of them men, and some changes have been made in the studies to accommodate them.
With a seating capacity of 247 in the assembly room an enrollment of almost 400 at Christmas time, the problem is a serious one as to how to care for all the pupils.
The boys are pleased over the prospects. Principal Thomas says: “As of yet I have not had the time to give the subject attention and may not for a day or two, but I am pleased with the talent, and I think Mr. Campbell and I can bring out a good team.”
Mr. Campbell, instructor in Latin, while principal at Boise, Idaho, coached the high school team, also on at Ironwood. Mich. , In 1901, He is a University of Michigan graduate, but was barred from varsity team because he had played four years on the team at Hillsdale College.

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Computer Access During COVID-19

The Moline Public Library is offering limited computer access in the first floor meeting rooms.

Computers will be available for one session per person, per day during the following time slots:

Monday – Friday

  • 9:00 am – 10:00 am
  • 10:20 am – 11:20 am
  • 11:40 am – 12:40 am
  • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • 2:20 pm – 3:20 pm
  • 3:40 pm – 4:40 pm

Walk-ins will be allowed only if the computers are available and no prior reservation for the computers have been made. Making a reservation for a specific time period is recommended in order to guarantee computer availability. Please call us at (309) 524-2470 or stop by the second floor Information Desk in order to reserve a computer. Reservations expire if an individual does not sign in within the first 10 minutes of a session and the computer will be made available for walk-in users.

All persons entering the Moline Public Library must wear a face mask, covering both mouth and nose, while in the building.

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

Moline Daily Dispatch
Thursday, August 27, 1896, page 4

Another Robbery

The Barber Shop of G.F.Faust Entered and Valuable Razors Stolen

“Another burglary occurred in the west end of the city last night. This time it was the barber shop owned by G.F. Faust, at 214 Third avenue, that was entered. It was perpetrated some time between 9 P.M. and 7 A.M.  The lock in the front door was picked and an entrance effected, the thieves taking twelve first-class razors, which Mr. Faust values at $ 25.  The plush case in which the razors were kept was also stolen. Nothing else is missing.
This is the third burglary which has occurred in this end of town in a month.”

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

Moline Daily Dispatch
Friday, August 21, 1896, page 5

Griffin Tile
Hollow Building Blocks
Now Made at Griffin
Already in Use in Moline
Other New Products

“Griffin tile made at Griffin everybody in Moline is acquainted with. And it has given the best of satisfaction wherever it has been put in use. Now the company is putting on the market another kind of work which promises to be as popular for building purposes as the tile has been for sidewalks.  The manufacture of hollow building blocks, an improvement over ordinary building brick, and useful in both foundations and as a material for construction, is the new branch of work.  In size the hollow blocks are 8x8x16 with a partition running lengthwise through the center, and the walls of the blocks are 1 inch in thickness.  They are made of the best clay, thoroughly vitrified and have been tested by the government and found to be capable of standing 200,000 pounds weight.

The advantage of the blocks can readily be seen.  They are hollow, with the exception of the partition, and this affords plenty of air space, keeping the blocks dry and intact and affording for the houses built of them warmth in winter and coolness in summer.  The blocks are impervious to frost.

It was estimated that a house of this material can be built more cheaply. By reason of their size it requires fewer of them, less mortar, the proportion being one joint to fourteen of brick.  For a foundation they are pronounced to be only material answering all purposes, and as material answering all purposes, and as material for building  a house combine three essential qualities: enduring character, beauty and moderate cost. The blocks can be made in all shapes and sizes, plain and ornamental in design, in circular form for towers or angular for bay windows.

Considering the short time in which these blocks have been manufactured by the Griffin works they have met a large demand. In Moline Dr. Morgan has had the foundation of his new home on Fifteenth street built of them.. as has also C.P. Mitchell and Hiram Darling

Another material now being turned out by the tile works is a re-pressed brick, very durable and pronounced by the Edwards & Walsh Co., to be the finest brick in the United States. It is exceedingly fine in finish and makes a prepossessing home for any who can afford it.  Fire-proofing is also manufactured and fire brick, some of which material can be seen in the courthouse.

Those interested can see a few carloads of the hollow blocks and of the tile piled on Library street in front of the Dispatch office. C.F. Hemenway is largely interested in this enterprise, and is ready to give information to inquirers.”

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

 Moline Daily Dispatch
Saturday, August 9, 1902, page 5

Wagon Co, to erect 5-story Warehouse

New Building to Rise on Site of Old Malleable Plant on 3d Ave

Of Mill Construction and So Arranged
As to Permit of Future Extensions
—New Blacksmith Shop

“The Moline Wagon Co has decided to construct a warehouse on the ground bought of the Union Malleable Iron Col. And Architect O Z Cervin is now at work on the plans for it. The building will have a frontage of 200 feet on Third avenue and will be 80 feet deep.  There will be a high basement of stone and four stories of brick making it practically a five-story building. The floor area will be about two acres.

The structure will be of mill construction and will be strong enough to carry the heaviest loads that can be put on it.

The business of the company has grown rapidly in the last few years that this additional room is sadly needed and even this amount will not suffice for many years.  There is room, however, for the extension of a wing of the building to the north. An immense blacksmith shop of structural steel and brick will also be erected.”

———————————————————————————————————————————

***Moline City Directory 1907
          Moline Wagon Company warehouse was located on north side of 3rd Avenue at 9th street (just west of what is now the Tax Slayer Center)***

 

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Moline News from the Past

Dug out by
Bob Conklin, Adult Services Librarian
 “Moline Dispatch Archives” database at molinelibrary.com

 

 Moline Daily Dispatch
Saturday, August 9, 1902, page 5

Peter Peterson will Build Velie Mansion

“W.L. Velie has let the contract for his splendid new residence to be erected at the corner of Eleventh street and Eleventh avenue to Peter Peterson for $ 15,000.  This figure is for the building alone and with the finishing, heating and lighting the total cost will amount to $ 20,000. Gust Ed has finished laying the foundation.

Plans for the building, which were drawn in Chicago, call for a two-story structure of the latest eastern style. The exterior of the building, including the massive columns which will support the wide veranda surrounding the whole house, will have the appearance of stone. The roof will be low with long extending gables and the windows will be very broad.  The style of architecture is something new in this vicinity.”

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Remote Access to Ancestry.com Library Edition!

Temporarily access Ancestry.com Library Edition from home! We are excited to be able to provide this special service to Moline Public Library card holders for as long as the library remains closed. Once the library reopens the resource will revert to being for in-library use only, but in the meantime enjoy filling in your family tree! Click here to request remote access to Ancestry.com Library Edition.