Rock Island Argus Building

The signature “Cervin & Horn Archts” at the lower right corner tells us that today’s postcard of the new Rock Island Argus building was created from an architectural rendering or drawing.  Benj. A. Horn of that firm designed the building in 1925, calling it Italian Renaissance in style.  From our perspective today, it seems as … [ Continued

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Third Avenue, West from 19th Street

A few weeks ago, we showed you a 1950s view of Third Avenue, looking east from 17th Street.  Today we return to Third Avenue as it appeared in 1910, this time looking west from 19th Street.  Very few would recognize this scene today.  Some of the prominent buildings are gone; others that we would readily … [ Continued

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Third Avenue, East from 17th Street

Usually these stories are about postcards from the early 1900s.  But this one is different – the view of Rock Island’s Third Avenue, looking east from 17th Street is only about fifty years old, new enough so that the scene is familiar to many of our readers.  And to many, the most immediately recognizable features … [ Continued

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New Billburg Bar

……………231 20th Street……………….  When Anthony Billburg opened his new saloon at 231 20th Street in 1915, he called it the New Billburg, and touted it as the Longest Bar in the World.  Previously Billburg had operated a saloon nearby at 221 20th Street while the Bullfrog Buffet operated by Mack Glynn was at 231.  The … [ Continued

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New Modern Woodmen Building

1701 First Avenue The Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) fraternal life insurance company of Rock Island has an uncommon longevity. It has been in business since 1883, and has been an anchor in downtown Rock Island for over 110 years. Always it has occupied a building of outstanding architectural merit. The first MWA home in … [ Continued

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