Rock Island Savings Bank
Third Avenue & 18th Street The Rock Island Savings Bank was brand new when this postcard was mailed in 1911—so new, in fact, that instead of using a photo as a basis for the card, a drawing of the bank was used. The rendering allowed the publisher to make the building appear much larger as … [ Continued
Uptown Business District
14th Avenue at 38th Street As Rock Island grew and expanded up the bluff, small retail centers developed concurrently to serve the new residents. Our Real Photo postcard showing 14th Avenue near 38th Street is from the Special Collections at the Augustana College Library. It was mailed – and probably created — by downtown photo … [ Continued
Downtown, Looking Southeast
Once again, thanks are due to Shannon Hall for lending us a most intriguing Real Photo postcard of the buildings and rooftops of downtown Rock Island. The presence of certain buildings and the absence of others let us date this photograph to about 1909. The photographer was likely atop the roof of the brand new … [ Continued
Best Building
1701-1707 Second Avenue In 1908 there were several new buildings being built in downtown Rock Island: the Safety Building, the London (Quad City Arts) and the Best Building as depicted in the post card above from Greg Binder’s collection. The Best Building, named for owner Louis P. Best of Davenport, replaced an old Italianate building … [ Continued
