Deere Wiman House
Posted by: 
drtmn
N 41° 30.105 W 090° 31.509
15T E 706560 N 4597415
The Deere Wiman House located in Moline,Il.
Waymark Code: WMBX2
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 05/03/2006
Views: 42
In 1870, Charles Deere purchased seven acres of property on a hilltop in Moline. At that time, the property, which today lies in the heart of the city, was removed from the hustle and bustle of the busy riverfront town.
The property overlooked Deere's plow factory and offered panoramic views of the Mississippi river and the valley below. It was here that Deere decided to build a home for Mary, his wife of ten years, and their two daughters, six-year-old Anna and four-year-old Katherine.
Deere engaged William Le Baron Jenney, a prominent Chicago architect to design his family's new home. Jenney had already designed a Swiss Chalet style home with large rooms and an open floor plan, and the home he designed for Deere featured a roof style the architect called "Swiss Villa."
The house, called Overlook by the family, was completed in 1872. It would be Charles' and Mary's home for the remainder of their lives. In 1906, their daughter Anna, now married to William Wiman, died unexpectedly. Charles, already in failing health, died the following year.
After Charles' death, Mary welcomed her late daughter's husband and two sons, Charles Deere and Dwight, into her home. In 1913, Mary Deere died and William Wiman died a year later.
After the deaths of their grandmother and father, Dwight and Charles Deere Wiman were cared for by their aunt and uncle, Katherine and William Butterworth, who lived in a home across the street.
After graduating from Yale, Charles Deere Wiman returned to Moline to take over the reins of Deere & Company from his uncle, William Butterworth. In 1920, Charles and his wife, the former Pattie Southall, made Overlook their home. There they raised two daughters, Mary Jane and Patricia.
Charles Deere Wiman died in 1955, and his wife Pattie continued to live in the home until her death in 1976. She donated the home and the surrounding property to the William Butterworth Memorial Trust.
Street address:
1217 11th Ave.
Moline, IL U.S.A.
61265
County / Borough / Parish: Rock Island
Year listed: 2005
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Home to John Deere
Periods of significance: Late 1800's to present
Historic function: Home to John Deere
Current function: Open for tours
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.