Glen Armil Neighborhood Association

submitted photo: photographer unknown

The history of our neighborhood is discovered in old b&w photos. As near as we can determine the pictures are from the early 1950’s by virtue of the models of the vehicles in them. If you have leads to the history of glen Armil neighborhood please contact the editor at [email protected].  The photo above is at Gaines looking west on Rusholme.  The car on Rushome Street is a Hudson design that was in production from 1948-1950.  The photo below is at Gaines street looking west on Spalding.  The truck on Spalding is a Chevrolet 3100 model of a design that was in production from 1947 – 1953.  The car in the drive way behind the truck appears to be a 1949 Chevy coupe or similar GM car.

submitted photo; photographer unknown

Research at the library has revealed that the Glen Armil addition was started in 1930.  Four permits were issued for the first houses in February of 1930.  One of the first houses built was at 834 Lombard.  Also the Davenport city council voted to pave a portion of Lombard St in that same year, but the rest of the streets in the addition were not paved until 1932.  So it seems building was begun on the southern edge of our neighborhood in the depths of the great depression.  Houses did not sell as originally planned and it wasn’t until 1940 that economic conditions were such that home buying in Davenport was more attractive.  Numerous advertisements were placed beginning that year for lots in the Daily Times newspaper.  These ads continued through 1941.  It wasn’t until the mid fifties that West Central Park was paved from Western to Marquette St.  Most of the houses were complete by 1956.

Hazel L. White, 90, formerly of Davenport, passed away May 16, 2017, at her home in Napa, California. Cremation rites were accorded and at her request, there will be no public service. Inurnment will be at Rosedale Cemetery, Cambridge, Illinois at a later date.

Hazel was born December 30, 1926, in Geneseo, Illinois, to Otto and Ellen (Engquist) Peterson. The family moved to Cambridge, Illinois, when she was 6 years old. She graduated from Cambridge High School where she was very active in everything concerning music. While in high school, she also continued her classical music studies with Louise Cervin at The Augustana School of Music.

She had been a member of St. John’s Methodist Church and Wahkonsa Country Club.

She married Harry S. White on October 26, 1947, in Cambridge. She was a homemaker, secretary at several business firms and worked for Jewel Tea Company for a number of years in their meat department as a wrapper. Other than family, her greatest joy in life has been listening to great music. She also enjoyed traveling, playing golf, baking and making handycraft things for family and friends.*

The couple lived most of their married life in Glen Armil neighborhood at 914 W Rusholme.  Harry her husband died in 2013.  It was in 2012 and 2013 that I became aware of the Whites as they were neighbors to another long time Glen Armil resident, Maryanna, who lived next door to the Whites at 2306 Warren.  I had met Maryanna in 2010 and because she was outdoors often, I spoke to her on occasions about neighborhood issues.  When I no longer saw Maryanna, I inquired about her of Hazel.  Hazel was a member of Glen Armil Neighborhood Association briefly before she sold her home and moved to California.   Another longtime resident of our neighborhood passed away this spring, Richard Parkin.  Richard lived in the white house on the northwest corner of Gaines and Lombard.  Richard was deaf but was adept at reading lips and could carry on a conversation with anyone who would encounter him in his front yard.  Richard spent a lot of time sitting on the stoop of his house watching the goings on of the busy intersection.  At his side could be found with his canine companion.  He kept his lawn well tended and when he was in poor health last fall, a friend and I trimmed his yews in the yard because Richard would not have allowed the yard to look shabby.

In the first two years of the G.A.N.A., I served as president and Joe Schloemer, served as vice president.  Joe passed away in the last two years as well.  Hazel, her husband Harry, Richard Parkin, Marryanna, and Joe Schloemer are now gone but I hope not forgotten in our neighborhood.  The Glen Armil  neighborhood continues to transition from one generation to another.  Perhaps you could step up and serve our association; we need a secretary presently.

*Thanks to the Quad City Times for providing Hazel White’s obituary.