Early Davenport laws still on the books

Everywhere you look in our world you will find laws, or rules that shape the way we behave. Sometimes these rules are proactive in trying to prevent a problem that hasn’t happened yet, and sometimes they are a reaction to a problem we have already had. Either way, a law or rule really only keeps an honest person honest. For the purpose of this article, I thought it would be fun to explore some early Davenport laws to see what citizens of bygone times thought was important to them.

I began by looking through the Davenport city code and found it still contained some entertaining laws from pioneer times. Since the old saying goes that ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law, I decided I should educate you on these rules so you too can stay honest. Here are some of my favorite early day laws still on the books (titles in bold with the year and summarized ordinance).

1. Slaughterhouses (1893): You can’t maintain a slaughterhouse, stockyard, or any other “unwholesome business” in Davenport. I guess we better not tell Stockland.

2. Offensive substances (1899): Basically you can’t let any “obnoxious, offensive, or unhealthful liquid or matter accumulate” on your property. In 1906 another ordinance was added making it illegal to put your obnoxious substances into Cottonwood Creek, so we could assume that folks began dumping “their liquids” there at some point.

3. Speed limit (1893): Now, of course I found this one interesting since nobody owned a vehicle during this time, and I would love to know how this was measured, but it appears in 1893 you were limited to “galloping, trotting, or speeding your horse or horses to no more than seven miles per hour.”

4. Dangerous (1893): Under this ordinance you are not allowed to “ride any bucking or ugly horse within the city limits”. While the term ugly doesn’t actually refer to your horse’s physical appearance it still makes for a good read.

5. Cruelty to animals (1899): Obviously still illegal, but what I find interesting is the wording in this ordinance. It appears you were really only guilty of this crime if the animal was “dumb, old, decrepit, or worthless.”

6. Bawdy house (1899): I’ll admit I had to search this term as I had never heard it before. Bawdy most simply referred to a “brothel” during this time period and you were not allowed to operate or be connected to this type of establishment (also still a law). A separate ordinance made it so a person could not maintain any “disorderly house” during this time period. Wouldn’t that be nice?

7. Injuring trees (1899): You are not allowed to injure any tree within this city unless it is your tree. Hard to believe we needed a rule for this one.

8. Lottery (1899): You cannot sell lotto tickets within the city limits. Anyone want to tell our retailers?

9. Prohibited (1911): You are not allowed to “expectorate” on the floor of any public building or sidewalk because nobody wants to step in your spit.

10. Slingshot (1903): You are not allowed to own or carry a slingshot in Davenport.

11. Tree roots (1921): It is illegal to allow your tree roots to interfere with the sewer system in town. Please talk to your roots ASAP.

12. Hours (1899). “Saloons and drinking houses shall remain closed on the seventh day of the week commonly called Sunday.”

13. Shutting off view (1918): If you’re under 21 a business cannot let you play or view any game of cards, pool, or billiards within the city limits.

14. Regulations (1899): “It is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on any sidewalk on Morgan Street between Third and Ninth Streets.” This one I recall from my childhood but who would have thought it stemmed from 1899? The ordinance also includes proper bell etiquette and distance requirements when passing another cyclist or pedestrian.

15. Patron under 18 (1924): Okay I saved what I feel is the best for last on this one. Listen up anyone under 18. No person under 18 “is permitted to attend any public dance without the escort of his or her guardian.” This ordinance also makes lying about your age to sneak into a dance a misdemeanor. Ouch!

Personally I’m glad these laws are still on the books and hope they stay there another 100 years even if they are no longer enforced. They provide us with a glimpse of the past, and serve as a sort of record of what those who came before us felt were issues that needed to be combated to keep their fellow citizens honest.

I hope the next time you think about riding your ugly horse to the town dance armed with your sling shot without a legal guardian you will think twice, because you are no longer ignorant to these wonderful pioneer laws.