Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-19

erected the Rock Island waterworks
pumping station. The sewage from
the increasing population contamina-
ted the water to such an extent that
the late P. L. Cable, in his generosity,
removed this station to its present To-
cation near the viaduct-this at his
own expense, being donation from
him to the city of Rock Island.
Continuing on Mississippi street east
up to a short distance west of the Ca
BILE residence was located a long, two
story frame house, known at the time
as the Farnum house. Near 1t was one
of the finest springs of cool water that
could be imagined. These old land
marks have now disappeared.
Before leaving Mississippi street, I
desire to call your attention to the
fact that near the viaduct the first
locomotive that ever crossed the old
Mississippi river was transported to
Davenport on the ice, under the super
vision of the late E. P. Reynolds, of
whom further mention in this article
will be made later on. Before leaving
Mississippi street, now First avenue,
1 would refer to the late ]. w. Spen-
Ger ferry franchise, the ferry then in
use being propelled by horse power,
or the old-fashioned treadmill power,
and from this little boat advancement
has been made to as fine ferry service
as there is on the northern Missis-
sippi, still under the same old fran
chise.
Second Avenue was Illinois Street.
We will now proceed south one block
to Illinois street, now Second avenue,
and first call your attention to the
place now occupied by ST. Joseph's
Catholic church, where the first Pres
byterian church of the town was erect
ed. In the spring time, or what was
commonly called the June rise, IN or
der to reach the little Presbyterian
church from Elk street, now Fifteenth,
1t became necessary on account of
high water to build an elevated side
walk from said street to the church, as
Illinois street, or Second avenue, at
that point was often covered with
water from one to three feet deep. At
ter the water subsidized, the wooden
horses and planks used in the con-
piled up near the engine house for fu-
ture use. On the lot at the rear of the
church an old and esteemed family by
the name of Dunlap resided, and in
one of the little rooms of the house
Miss Durant taught school, the writer
hereof being one of her scholars, it be-
ing the second school he ever attend
ed, the first school being situated in
Spencer square, formerly known as
Union square, and located in about
the same position as the band stand
now occupies. The tutor thereof was
Quincy Mcneil, the first and one of the
best teachers that ever studied I'M
der On the northwest corner of the
same square was located the Meth
odist church, both church and school
house being one-story bricks
Going east on Illinois street from the
st. Joseph's church, we find the court
house square, upon the northwest cor
ner of which the first fire engine house
was erected, designated as the Western
Engine house No. l. The company en-
rolled to man this engine was compos-
ed entirely of Germans, and noble
band of men were they. Many a good
fight did they put up against the raw
ages of fire.
Main business Thoroughfare.
Illinois street Second avenue) from
Elk street Fifteenth street, to Jeffer
son street Nineteenth street, was the
principal business thoroughfare, the
store buildings being, with very few
exceptions, one-story frames, the stock
in most cases of mixed variety or
general merchandise emporiums
wherein the customer could be sup
piled with needles, pins, calico, etc., to
latter, however, being linn
fredericksburg New Orleans molas-
ses), sugar, and other groceries, hard
ware, crockery, etc; and upon COM
plotting your purchases, if you did not
get them in exchange for butter and
eggs or some other produce, or if your
credit was good enough to have them
charged, or if You were fortunate
enough to have the ready cash, I can
assure you that in either case you
were not compelled to wait a half an
hour or more for a cash girl to be
called, or until an overhead trolley
basket could be sent to the wrapping
department with your purchases and
money and return while you wait, and
fortunate is the person who has any
change coming, considering the pres
ent high prices. Board sidewalks
graced the front of these stores, no at