Early 20th century History of Davenport, Iowa

panoramic view of second , harrison streets, 1907

on july 25, 1901, large fire erupted on davenport s east side. fire burnt out late in day, instead of being brought under control. 8 blocks of buildings destroyed causing 1 million dollars of damage. no lives lost during fire.

the 1920s brought economic , building boom. city s skyline began form, construction of commercial buildings kahl building , capitol theatre, parker building, , american commercial , savings bank. large national department stores arrived downtown, montgomery wards, sears , j.c. penney. blackhawk hotel built in downtown in 1915. original hotel 7 stories. 4 floors added in 1920s, giving total of 400 rooms. blackhawk has been host several high-profile people including carl sandburg, herbert hoover, richard nixon, , jack dempsey. hotel named rooms 412-414 nixon suite . big bands such guy lombardo , stan kenton played @ blackhawk on many occasions

on christmas day in 1920, 10,000 people turned out see opening of davenport s new, elegant theater, capitol theatre. capitol theatre featured classical interior, orchestra pit , full-scale theater organ. third balcony extended 5 full stories. theater s 2,000 seats regularly filed. on february 18, 1922, woc radio made local broadcasting debut. woc second radio station licensed in country. in 1933, woc hired future president ronald reagan staff announcer.

in 1930, efforts began turn city dump landmark. project construct municipal stadium (now called modern woodmen park). project financed bonds, , cost more $150,000. special features included reserved seats, box seats, , night lighting. stadium home saint ambrose university football games, , boxing matches. today stadium home quad cities river bandits baseball team. 1932, thousands of davenporters on public relief due great depression. shantytown grew in west end of city along mississippi river. sickness, hunger, , unsanitary living conditions plagued area. through county , municipal government, federal civil works administration gave employment thousands of men. worked extend seawall along riverfront. more 200 jobs created construction of lock , dam 15 project, in 1932. hundreds of state employees worked on completing kimberly road outerbelt bypass in 1936.