We were joined today by Heather Calvert, Executive Director and Moline Rotarian. Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House both once belonged to John Deere’s descendants but are now operated by the William Butterworth Foundation. They serve as year-round sites for quality educational and cultural events, meeting space for not-for-profit organizations, and tours for local, national, and international visitors.
In 1892, Katherine Deere, granddaughter of John Deere, married William Butterworth, and their home was built as a wedding gift by her parents, Mary and Charles Deere. The original house was much smaller and looked significantly different from what you see today. Sitting just a block from Charles Deere’s home “Overlook,” the home was named “Hillcrest.”
In 1872, John Deere's son, Charles, built the Deere-Wiman House for his wife, Mary Little Dickinson Deere, and their daughters, Anna and Katherine, born in 1864 and 1866, respectively. The family named their Swiss Villa style residence Overlook because of its desirable hilltop location above the growing city of Moline, Illinois, and the family business, the John Deere Plow Works.
Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House hosts a variety of free family events throughout the year. A traditional 19th Century Christmas open house marks the start of the holiday season on the first Sunday afternoon of December. Other annual events, such as Evenings at Butterworth and Music on the Lawn, appeal to visitors from preschoolers to senior citizens.
Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House are available for use by organizations which promote community service and lifelong learning. Through the generosity and vision of Katherine Deere Butterworth, over 1,400 meetings and activities are hosted in our unique historic settings each year.
Be sure to schedule a visit soon!
