When I first came to Rock Island a half century ago, the first great home dedicated to public use I became acquainted with was Butterworth Center. Then, later, the Deere-Wiman House, and eventually the Hauberg Center.
Today, the Butterworth and Deere-Wiman properties are managed and maintained by the William Butterworth Foundation for public use and enjoyment.
“In 1951, John Deere’s granddaughter, Katherine Deere Butterworth, moved by her community involvement and philanthropy, established the William Butterworth Foundation in memory of her husband. In 1956, her home -- formerly known as ‘Hillcrest’ -- opened as Butterworth Center, a bustling civic center which now hosts scores of cultural and educational activities each year, along with historical tours and meeting space for not-for-profit groups.
“In 1976, Pattie Southall Wiman, widow of Charles Deere Wiman, donated her nearby home, ‘Overlook,’ to the William Butterworth Foundation. Known today as the Deere-Wiman House, it also serves as a civic center for the promotion of education, culture, and perpetuation of the John Deere family legacy.”
The two facilities, together with their carriage houses and grounds, are the outstanding public jewels of our community, and grand gifts to the community and the people of the community.
Somewhat more recently, I became aware of the beautiful Hauberg Center and its grounds in Rock Island. I made my first visit when I was sent by a Genesius Guild costumer to get a costume from storage at the carriage house/garage. Since, I have attended a number of Genesius Guild events in the house proper. The house is a thing of beauty.
For my money, the Hauberg Center (with its carriage house and grounds) is the outstanding jewel of the Rock Island park system.
The mansion was the home of John Hauberg and his wife, Susanne Denkmann Hauberg. Both were philanthropists.
Mrs. Hauberg’s philanthropies include establishment of the West End Settlement, the Rock Island YWCA, children’s camps, and (with her siblings) donation of the Denkmann Memorial Library at Augustana College.
John Hauberg was instrumental in securing Black Hawk’s Watch Tower as a state park in 1927. Much of his personal collection helped create the John Hauberg Indian Museum. One of his lasting legacies was as the recorder of the oral histories of the area’s pioneers, housed at the Rock Island Historical Society.
The Hauberg children donated the home, an architectural masterpiece, to the city of Rock Island to be used as the Hauberg (Civic) Center in 1956.
Given the history of the Hauberg’s largess, there is no doubt whatever in the mind of any rational person whatsoever, that the mansion (with its garage and grounds) were given to the city in trust -- either express or implied -- for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the public in perpetuity; not to be disposed of as “surplus property” by unappreciative politicians.
The city itself describes the property as follows:
“The siting of this house is splendid -- it wraps around a curving hillside on a very disciplined but irregular plan. This Prairie style masterpiece is the work of Chicago architect Robert C. Spencer, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. Spencer was known for blending the ‘modern’ Prairie style with historical elements, particularly half-timbering. Mrs. Hauberg’s favorite flower -- the tulip -- is featured stylistically throughout the exterior and interior. Spencer adapted the tulip to stone insets, plaster molding, wood organ screens, fixtures, decorative tiles and much more.
“Landscape architect Jens Jensen, also from Chicago and very famous in his own right, laid out the 10 acre tract to appear as a native Wisconsin woodland. Some elements of Jensen’s landscape remain on the west side of the house, particularly, a winding path and stone bridge.”
To dispose of the property as surplus would be a gross and irresponsible breach of the public trust. If the city can’t maintain this wonderful facility, then, as Mark Schwiebert suggests, the city/park board should turn the facility over to a charitable foundation, and lead the effort to insure the proper funding of the foundation.
One thing is certain, the Hauberg family wanted the facility held in trust for the use and benefit of the people of Rock Island. If Mr. and Mrs. Hauberg (or their heirs) had wished it to be sold or leased to the first prosaic businessman who came along, they could have easily done that themselves -- and pocketed the proceeds.
Posted: Monday, February 1, 2016 12:00 am | Updated: 12:00 am, Mon Feb 1, 2016. QCOnline.com
Copyright 2016,
John Donald O'Shea
No comments:
Post a Comment