Ruth Vendala Marie Moll, Part II

By Gretchen Small
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26 Apr, 2021
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Last month’s blog looked at Ruth Moll’s childhood and the early years of her working for Katherine and William Butterworth. We are now turning to her life at Hillcrest, both with Katherine and William Butterworth and as the first Director of Butterworth Center. I have struggled with how to organize these two periods in Ruth’s life in a meaningful manner. Because I love historic photographs, I have decided that telling her story mostly through photos is the best option.

As I mentioned last month, soon after Ruth came to work for the Butterworth household, she made her first trip to Cuba. From her stuffed scrapbook, we know that this was the first trip of many. In 1920, she accompanied both William and Katherine to Europe on the Red Star Line on the S.S. Kroonland ship. The early pages of the scrapbook are filled with numerous playbills like the one below from the London Hippodrome. This was just the start of Ruth’s many visits to plays, musicals, operas, and concerts in Europe, New York and Chicago.

Back in Moline, Ruth continued her close friendship with the other staff at Hillcrest. They had so much fun together in the Hillcrest gardens, the Butterworth’s houseboat and in California at the Butterworth’s other residences.

*1921 Hillcrest gardens, staff members Herbert Schauer, Ruth, and Clifford Paul (?) (1997.312.1)*

Several photographs in our archives are marked as being used for passport photographs. It is interesting to see Ruth through the years.

1923, here is Ruth (far right) on a camel near the Egyptian Pyramids. Katherine Butterworth (on camel far left), William Butterworth (on camel in center back) and Colonel and Mrs. French in horse drawn carriage. (1993.6.1)

You may have seen a photograph very similar to this one above. During the 1920s many people made the trip to Egypt to see the Pyramids. The Egyptians must have had a photo stop in this location. I have seen many photographs with different people posed in a very similar arrangement.

*This 1910s photograph I found numerous places on google. Not exactly the same pose but I like it because you see the camera set-up.*

*Ruth’s Passport with trip to Germany in 1927. (WBF Archives)*

*1930-36, Staff somewhere in California. L to R: unknown, Ruth, and Clifford Paul (1992.106.1)*

*1930, Mrs. Butterworth and Ruth (on right) near gate to airship/dirigible. Were they there to just view it or where they going to ride in it? (1992.28.1)*

*c1930, Butterworth staff in California preparing for a trip. L to R: Albert Boost, Madeline Jordano, Anna Malmstead (?), and Ruth (1998.27.1)*

*1932, Ruth on horseback. I never knew that Ruth rode horses. Or was this just a posed shot like the camel photograph? She does seem to have the right clothing. (1992.25.1)*

*1933, I love this photograph of Ruth getting ready to board an airplane! (1992.13.1)*

1934 at the Congressional Country Club, Washington, D.C. Here is another photograph that surprised me. Ruth never mentioned that she golfed. Or again was this posed! Either way, Ruth definitely experienced so much in her life. (1992.24.1)

Late 1930s to early 1940s, Ruth in front passenger seat. In back is Mrs. Butterworth with her grandniece, Mary Jane Wiman. I am guessing that the photographer is Clifford Paul. Clifford was the longtime chauffeur for Mrs. Butterworth. Photograph was taken in Europe. I bet Clifford became adept at securing luggage on top of the car. (1992.3.1)

1953, On board the SS United States. L to R: Mrs. Butterworth, Ruth and Mrs. Joshua Hale. Mrs. Butterworth passed away in 1953. This was probably the last trip she took to London and was most likely the trip they took to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. (1993.42.1)

1955, Staff coffee break, Ruth is on the left, second from the front. This picture dates from a year before Hillcrest opened as Butterworth Center. During Hillcrest’s life, the staff always met for a break at 10a. (1998.206.1)

After Mrs. Butterworth’s passing in 1953, Hillcrest was converted into the Butterworth Center. In her will, Mrs. Butterworth had created the William Butterworth Memorial Trust. The Trust was to be used to fund a meeting center for local not-for-profit organizations. Ruth became the first Director of Butterworth Center and oversaw preparations for its’ opening for meetings in May of 1956.

Just before the house hosted it first meeting, Ruth held an open house. As you can see from the Moline Daily Dispatch, crowds of people lined up to see inside the Butterworth home for the first time.

December 1957, Ruth (on left) and Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman (on right), in the Butterworth Library. I think the success of the 1956 open house led to Ruth creating an annual Christmas Open House that began in 1957 and still exists today as 19th Century Christmas. (2019.21.1)

*1962 Passport Photograph. I don’t know if Ruth traveled out of the United States following Mrs. Butterworth’s death, but we can see she maintained a passport. (1992.20.1)*

1960s, L to R: Mrs. Marvin Lyon, Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman, and Ruth, with newly commissioned portrait of Katherine Deere Butterworth. The portrait still hangs in the Library today along with a portrait of William Butterworth. I am sure this was an important day for Ruth in memory of Mrs. Butterworth. (1992.284.1)

This is how I remember Ruth. I came to work at the homes in 1986 and remember seeing Ruth at her desk in Butterworth Center every day. From 1953 until her retirement in 1990, Ruth lived on the third floor of Butterworth Center. The two original staff bedrooms became her sitting room and bedroom. It was in her sitting room that I sat down with her and a tape recorder to try and document her memories of a wonderful life.

My memories of the 10a coffee break with Ruth date to 1986-1990. Ruth would dress and head down to her office in the morning. By 10a she was ready for her breakfast. Everyone would gather around the kitchen table. This would include all staff inside and outside and any workmen that day were invited. A typical break consisted of coffee and biscuits. The very first time I saw Ruth eat a biscuit I was astounded. She would split the biscuit open, pull the plate with a stick of butter on it, towards her. She would then slice her knife down on the butter and place it on one half of the biscuit. She would then repeat this process. The whole time she would be talking. I was sure that she didn’t realize how thick a slice of butter she had added to each half. But then she would pick up a half and starting eating. I then realized this was a woman who really liked butter!

During the summer of 1990, Ruth fell and was in the hospital for a period. Her doctor explained that it was time for her to retire. At the age of 93 she left the home she had known since 1916 and moved to Friendship Manor. Then three years later she passed away on her 96th birthday. Her funeral brought out many people with fond memories of her long life as “the First Lady of Butterworth Center.” One special memory for me is that a longtime Butterworth staff member was allowed to drive the hearse. During Ruth's tenure as Director of Butterworth Center, George Catterton was responsible for driving Ruth. She had never learned to drive since her first 37 years at Hillcrest the chauffeurs did all the driving.

*1986, L to R: Gladys Sundeen, Ruth, and Letha Williams (1993.34.1)*

In closing, I am sharing one of my favorite photographs. These three women, along with Kay Vogel (Director of Deere-Wiman House), would meet for lunch to celebrate their birthdays. I was lucky enough to be invited along twice. This photograph was celebrating Kay’s birthday. These three women I was privileged to know and I miss listening to them chat. Many have asked me if I know what Mrs. Butterworth was like. I answer that since I knew Ruth, I feel that I also knew Mrs. Butterworth. She spent her life with her and I think absorbed many of Mrs. Butterworth's mannerisms and morals. She felt honored to continue Mrs. Butterworth’s legacy in the community for 75 years.

Ruth Vendala Marie Moll, Part II

Royal Experiences for the Deere Family: Part II

Royal Experiences for the Deere Family

Alexander F. Harmer

Inside the Butterworth Garage

The History of the Butterworth Garage

Deere-Wiman House 1917 Swimming Pool

The Deere Family and The Hotel Colorado

Ruth Vendla Marie Moll

Mollie and John Capris

William Le Baron Jenney