Rock River
Stories set here
- Chris: Backyard Friendships, Soccer, and a Life in MusicCarol's determination to live in the Coolidge school district placed Chris near three boys who became lifelong friends. His enthusiasm for soccer led to memorable football kicks and the captaincy of Moline Senior High School's first soccer team. At Northern Illinois University, he turned toward guitar and a college band while earning his degree. He later released a CD, founded a record company, supported local musicians, wrote music journalism, and compiled a family recipe book presented at the 1999 reunion.
- Favorite Pastimes on the Rock RiverBob says he has no particular hobby but enjoys reading, golf, fishing, boating, and woodworking. Living on the Rock River makes jet skiing, his current favorite activity, convenient. He wishes summers were longer and has become a skilled picture framer.
- Long Winter Rides Through the Big WoodsBernard recalls eagerly awaiting Christmas and snow, and the transformed winter landscape of Ferry’s Woods. He describes approaching the woods by the Frys' farm and navigating a steep, winding sled run with Bob on their shared Christmas Flexible Flyer. They extended their rides onto a frozen creek until a log near a small pond stopped them; the long climb back in heavy winter clothing made this hard play.
- Family Remedies and Memories of Childhood IllnessBernard recalls ringworm treatments for himself and Bob, crediting Daddy's use of Kerodin with becoming a standard treatment after the Arp doctors heard of it. He remembers Daddy's foot fungus and recurring malaria, Gramps's weather-sensitive rheumatism, and Mom deliberately exposing the children to whooping cough. Despite saying he cannot remember childhood sickness, he recalls ringworm, measles, and chicken pox. Other memories include Mom's sewing injuries, sunburn and bursitis, his own dog-bite scar, a girl's scarlet fever that he tentatively attributes to Carol, and the family's belief that childhood vegetables would protect them from cancer.
- One Chance to Learn to SwimBernard recalls his father putting muslin water-wings on him and throwing him into the Rock River to teach him to swim. He sank, feared he would die, and cried after his father grabbed him when he emerged. His father carried him out and concluded that he would never learn to swim. Bernard says he never did, and that the swimming requirement later ended his advancement toward Explorer Scout despite his love of Scouting and more than twenty merit badges.
- Leaving the Rock River House by BoatIris has vague memories of a brief stay in a house on the Rock River with a large screened-in front porch and many mosquitoes. During flooding, the family loaded belongings into a boat and left. She thinks this may have been her parents' second house in Moline.
Events here
after a long day at Rock River
Mom's severe sunburn
The skin on her sunburned back peeled off in one piece. She never sunbathed again.
other
An unsuccessful swimming lesson
Bernard's father threw him into the river wearing muslin water-wings. Bernard sank, emerged, and was grabbed by his father, who carried him out while Bernard clung to him.
at a time of flooding
Evacuating the Rock River home during flooding
Iris remembers loading belongings into a boat and leaving the house during flooding. She thinks it may have been her parents' second house in Moline.
Family corrections
Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.
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