The Early Years of St. Mary’s Hospital
When St. Mary’s Hospital opened in 1867 the first floor consisted of a chapel, a reception room, chaplain’s quarters, a guest room, a pharmacy, and a parlor. The basement held…
St. Mary’s Hospital Begins
Quincy’s position on the Mississippi River made it a logical site for Union Army hospitals during the Civil War. After the war ended, the growing city had only one hospital,…
Marvin “Pee Wee” Wolverton, A Highly Decorated WW II Flyer: Part 2
It’s not often that a general writes a parent about a son, but that is what happened. Lena Wolverton received a letter from Lt. General George C. Kenney, commander of…
Marvin “Pee Wee” Wolverton, A Highly Decorated WW II Flyer: Part 1
Technical Sergeant Marvin B. Wolverton’s military occupation was that of an Airplane Armorer and Gunner assigned to B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. During World War II, he served in the following…
The “Honeymoon Express” Arrived in Quincy in 1919 to the Delight of Thousands
On a pleasant September morning in 1919, Lieutenant Samuel “Sammy” Pickard, a daring World War I pilot with a penchant for adventure, soared through the skies in his trusty biplane,…
The Early Years of Blessing Hospital
To continue the Blessing story, the hospital archives has a ledger from October 1875 to April of 1876 which contains brief notes on 144 hospital visits. These notes show that…
Blessing Hospital Begins
As a port city on the Mississippi River, Quincy had travelers, Civil War veterans, widows, and orphans passing through. Many times these folks needed assistance particularly during the winter. In…
Etta Semple: Freethinker, Feminist, and Newspaper Writer
Three major social forces converged in late 19th century America: the Victorian Era with its rigid conformity and moral strictures; the Gilded Age with immense disparities between wealth and poverty;…
Christmas 1944: Carols, Ration Books, and War
December 1944 brought an unusual warmth to the Midwest, a fleeting comfort before winter’s chill returned just in time for the holidays. Amid ration books and shortages, families improvised with…
How Did Canals and Railroads Change Travel?
Canals changed how people traveled and settled in Illinois. In many places it replaced the stage coach which was the first form of public transport between towns. The canal system…
