Roald Tweet
Writer and Narrator of 'Rock Island Lines'Beginning 1995, historian and folklorist Dr. Roald Tweet spun his stories of the Mississippi Valley to a devoted audience on WVIK. Dr. Tweet published three books as well as numerous literary articles and recorded segments of "Rock Island Lines." His inspiration was that "kidney-shaped limestone island plunked down in the middle of the Mississippi River," a logical site for a storyteller like Dr. Tweet.
It was from Rock Island’s rich heritage that Dr. Tweet spun his histories, biographies and "stretchers." Among his favorite topics were railroads and riverboats, which he combined on a CD in celebration of the Grand Excursion in 2004. "Rock Island Lines with Roald Tweet" received awards from the Illinois Historical Society as well as the Towner Award from the Illinois Humanities Council.
Dr. Tweet was professor emeritus, retired from the Augustana College English department, where he was professor and Conrad Bergendoff Chair in the Humanities. A writer and radio personality, Dr. Tweet was also an accomplished woodcarver and whittler.
Dr. Tweet left us in November of 2020, but his legacy lives on. You can hear many of his Rock Island Lines in podcast form here and also in a forthcoming book from WVIK and East Hall Press.
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Of the thousand or more island sprinkled on the Upper Mississippi River, only one is fit for that Biblical wise man:…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island. As with most rough river towns along the Upper Mississippi, Rock Islanders have had their share of sin. In 1903,…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.When it comes to saints, we Scandinavian Lutherans around Rock Island have a poor track record. We have only one—Saint…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The Rock Island Lines steam engine passenger trains have been silent for more than forty years now, but I can still…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.We all know people who have grown up to fit their names. At least one town near Rock Island did just that.By 1843,…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Mark Twain held a very peculiar idea about literature. He thought that books ought to tell the truth. It’s a lesson he…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The average Rock Islander wastes two hours, sixteen minutes, thirty-four seconds each day. Don't judge. If the truth be…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Are you one of those who feels the world is going by your window too fast, blurred like a video on fast-forward? Before…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Rock Island Lines is permitted two commercials a year. This is one of them.I won't mince words. If you have any small…
-
CommunityThis is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Once upon a time near Rock Island, there was a hardware store that did not take American Express. It didn’t take Visa…