"Blossoms at Butterworth" special event June 22nd free and open to the public

Visitors will be transported to the 19th century at the historic Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House in Moline, Illinois during the annual Blossoms at Butterworth event on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House are located at 1105-8th Street and 817-11th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, respectively.

The homes belonged to John Deere’s son, Charles Deere (Deere-Wiman House) and granddaughter, Katherine Butterworth (Butterworth Center). Today the homes operate as civic centers that provide tours, programs and cultural events.

During Blossoms at Butterworth, visitors get a glimpse into Victorian family life and architectural innovations of the past century. The elaborate gardens that accent both homes will be at their peak and free tours of the interiors of both Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House will be given.

Also during the event, visitors can play 1800s games, interact with characters dressed in period clothing, enjoy children’s activities at the WQPT Garden Tent, take a "Time-Travel" tour, learn to juggle, listen to live music, enjoy great food, and view an antique auto show.

Butterworth Center's pipe organ, considered one of the largest of its kind in this region, has just undergone a major restoration. Organists are scheduled to play during the Blossoms at Butterworth event as follows:

Steve Steeley is the Minister of Music at First Lutheran Church in Moline, the organist at St. Pius X in Rock Island, and the organist at Temple Emanuel in Davenport. Steve will be playing from 12:30-2:30 p.m.


Dave Gaulrapp is the Director of Music and organist at First United Presbyterian in Clinton, and the organist at Zion Lutheran in Clinton.Dave will be playing from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

A video from a past Blossoms at Butterworth and a photo gallery of the homes’ gardens and event can be viewed online:
Blossoms at Butterworth youtube video from past event

Blossoms at Butterworth and garden photo gallery

Download and listen to audio from our newly restored organ:

My Country! ‘Tis of Thee

Military Polonaise by Chopin


(News media is welcome to use any photos in the gallery)

History of the Deere descendants’ homes
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. They 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.
In 1892, Charles Deere built a new home a block from his beloved Overlook as a wedding gift for his youngest daughter, Katherine, and her husband William Butterworth. Over the years, the Butterworths tripled the size of the original house. After Katherine’s death in 1953, Butterworth Center was opened as a civic center to perpetuate her lifelong pattern of giving back to the community she loved. In the 1970s, Deere-Wiman House was opened to the public. Both homes operate under the William Butterworth Memorial Trust.

For more information visit www.butterworthcenter.com or call 309-765-7970.
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