Postcards From Home



Rock Island’s 1902 High School

21st Street & 6th Avenue From the earliest days, there were schools in the tiny settlement that would become Rock Island, but they were private and usually quite small. Academic … [ Continued



Arsenal Power House & Dam

South Side of Arsenal Island Some look at a flowing river and see beauty.  Others see raw power ready to be captured.  The waters of the Mississippi River have enormous … [ Continued



Rock Island Arsenal Rustic Bridge

Arsenal, South of Golf Course Does today’s postcard represent a local scene?   This stone bridge with its two wide arches resembles those of medieval origin, traversing any of a number … [ Continued



Old Main – Augustana College

Seventh Avenue looking Southeast Thanks to George Henning for lending today’s Real Photo postcard of an Augustana College scene.  The view is from Rock Island’s 7th Avenue looking southeast toward … [ Continued



Circus Day – Second Avenue

Second Avenue W from 18th Street Oh, the excitement!  On Rock Island’s normally staid downtown streets, where men wore suits and a woman was never seen without a hat, there … [ Continued



Long View Park Helen Horst Memorial Pool

Long View Park Rock Island’s location at the junction of two major rivers is enviable.  But rivers are a mixed blessing, especially where children are concerned.  Playing or swimming in … [ Continued



J. E. Janes’ Restaurant

1810 Second Avenue If the holidays find you in charge of providing a nice meal for many unacquainted people, take a tip from the Janes family.  In their restaurant, shown … [ Continued



Longfellow School

7th Avenue at 41st Street In the 1890s, E. H. Guyer promoted a new city linking Rock Island and Moline that he called Keystone. Although that dream city of 60,000, … [ Continued