Life & Times



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



Harms Hotel Tap Room

18th Street at First Avenue  Before we explain our postcard today, we must tell you a bit about Rock Island’s Hotel Harms. In the near future we will give the … [ Continued



John Looney Riot

16th Street at Third Avenue  This column has often featured rare Real Photo postcards from the early 1900s.  Such postcards provide uncommon and unaltered views of historic Rock Island.  Their … [ Continued



Elks State Convention Parade -1913

 Second Avenue,  East from 15th Street There was celebrating in Rock Island on June 3-5, 1913, when hundreds of Elks from across Illinois came to their 10th Annual State Convention.  … [ Continued



Market Square – Farmers Congress

17th Street at Second Avenue  News coverage of the weeklong gathering of the 24th annual Farmers National Congress began on Saturday, October 6, 1906, when the Argus reported that downtown … [ Continued



Palace Amusement – Marathon Dance

5th Avenue & 13th Street  It was a nationwide craze for over a decade, and Rock Island played a small part in it.  Our postcard today is captioned “Marathon Dance … [ Continued