Messages

As a Moline native, unfortunately, I can't remember the exact year the "new" water tower was installed but I know it was after the 1950's.  I graduated in 1961 and the old tower was still in use then so the replacement probably took place sometime in the 60's.

The Mobil station on the corner, west of the courthouse was owned by my grandfather, Jim Hawkins.  He bought it in about 1936 and sold out about 1956 or so.

While taking Drivers Ed at Moline High School in the fall of 1957, I remember driving the drivers ed car, a new 1958 Chevrolet, down the road past the cemetery, where many of my ancestors are buried, then south across the low water bridge and up the hill.  The county road department was working on the gravel road and most of the gravel was buried under mud, since it had been raining the day before.  My Drivers Ed teacher, Keith Buchele, told me to go for it.  It was a miracle we didn't get stuck in that muck but we slowly made it to the corner just north of Bruce Fickel's  house and got back on K99 highway.  By this time, we were running late for the next class back at MHS and Mr. Buchele told me to step on it.  We were going 90 to 95 MPH down K99 with his blessing.  Made it back to MHS just as the next class was starting.

Of course, this is my hometown of Moline. The Palace Hotel is the clue that cannot be denied.  The possible covered walkway, if it ever existed, was not there in my memory.  I do remember brick paving in those areas. 

I guess I would guess Kansas City since it on the Missouri River which has access to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi.

After further thought, I believe it was 1956 when Moline went dial.

Just to put the record straight.  Dial telephones didn't come to Howard until 1964.  Moline had them years before that, 1957.  In fact, I believe Howard was the last town in Kansas served by Southwestern Bell to get dial phones.

I'm sorry I never knew Shirley but our family was good friends with her brother and sister-in-law, Curt and Winnie Rutherford.  They were great people.

I agree Alice.  I have spent the last 3 hours reading this very interesting blog.  Mark has done a nice job.

It's a sad commentary on the American electorate when we see the polls which put Barack Obama ahead of a man with such a resume'.  How far we have fallen from the ideals of our founding fathers.

In 1952, I had a "I Like Ike" cap and wore it all the time.  As for me, this year, I LIKE MITT !!!!!!