Day in history for October 20, 2000

1875 -- 125 years ago

Harry C. Cleaveland is running for Rock Island county treasurer on the Republican ticket.

1900 -- 100 years ago

Brakeman Kingsbury of the Rock Island Lines narrowly escaped fatal injuries when he fell between two boxcars.

1925 -- 75 years ago

Charles Esplin, Jr., was elected master councilor of Templar Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

1950 -- 50 years ago

The Coal Valley fire district will purchase a 3 horsepower fire siren that can be heard for a distance of three miles, it was announced following a meeting of the district trustees last night. The siren will be purchased from government surplus for $150. Two oxygen respirators and two waterproof canvas covers have arrived and are ready for use. Plans were completed for a banquet to be held for volunteer firemen and their families Nov. 1 in the Coal Valley Presbyterian Church.

1975 -- 25 years ago

An abandoned 2 1/2 story house was destroyed at 14th St. and 6th Ave., Rock Island, and two adjacent structures heavily damaged by fire. Firemen estimated the damage at $50,000 and blamed the cause of the blaze on a 10-year-old boy burning a grasshopper on a piece of paper. The occupants of an adjacent dwelling were made homeless by the fire. Major damage also resulted to the M And W Upholstery Shop.

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