First Floor 1892
Of the many changes to William and Katherine Butterworth’s home, the first floor changed the most. From a lovely 1892 home for the newly married couple to a floor plan essential for their involvement in the community and running Deere & Company, the home changed drastically.

Entry Way
1892 Floor Plan Entry Way

The original home’s Entry Way used the present entrance doors to the house but was a much smaller room compared to the present. A fireplace, angled in the southwest corner, could be seen upon entering the front door or from the north porch entrance. The staircase to the Second Floor was the same as today’s staircase.


1917 Renovations to Entry Way

The Entry Way was doubled in size in 1917 in conjunction with a renovation of the Library. After the renovations, guests could enter the house through the porte-cochere entrance in the lower level and walk upstairs to be greeted by the Butterworths in their newly remodeled Gothic Entry Way. The angled fireplace was removed, while the staircase to the second floor remained the same.



Library - Present Day Floor Plan
Library doors today

Library doors 1950's

The Library as it appeared prior to 1953

Many consider the Library to be the most spectacular room in the Butterworth home, built in an octagonal shape in 1917 to accommodate a 25’ x 50’ ceiling painting. Many of the furnishings reflect the Renaissance influence.


The doors leading to the library were crafted to match the Entry Way staircase spindles. Originally, the doors had glass inserts which showcased the intricate wood details of the doors. Wooden inserts were added after Mrs. Butterworth’s death. The linen-fold carvings on the lower sections of the doors are a common Gothic feature.


How did the Butterworths use their new Library?

The Library was a place to entertain, originally housing an incredible collection of furniture, artwork and historic furnishings. When built in 1917, the Library was decorated with 16th century handwoven velvet wallcoverings, an oriental rug, and a variety of paintings and decorative pieces. Three groupings of furniture completed the room —one at each end and one flanking the fireplace. Many of the furnishings were sold after Mrs. Butterworth’s death in 1953. The carved wooden bookshelves around the perimeter of the room are original, along with many of the books.
The Library as it appears today

Living Room
Old Photo of living room
The Living Room is where the first major remodeling occurred. When Charles Deere passed away in 1907, William Butterworth became the President of Deere & Company, which necessitated a growth spurt to the home. More space was needed to entertain. In 1909, two smaller rooms, each with their own fireplace, were merged into a single new Living Room. The Music Room, with its sunken floor and newly purchased organ, was added at the same time.

Living Room 1925-53
Bright
Silent night
Circassian Walnut paneling
The Living Room was expanded again in 1925, requiring the plasterwork to match the existing room. At this time, the paneling was added to match the fireplace and Music Room woodwork.

The wood paneling in the Living Room is called Circassian Walnut, also known as English Walnut. Circassian Walnut, originating from Asia, was sought after in American and European furniture markets. Well established in Europe by the middle ages, the wood became a favorite timber for furniture.

Who is this enchanting young woman? The Butterworths collected items of great quality and beauty. This portrait was a gift from a relative; and though the subject is not related to the family, her portrait fit perfectly in the home.

This magnificent instrument, manufactured in Rock Island, Illinois, by the Bennett Organ Company, was installed in 1909. The 26 ranks of pipes rest behind Gothic woodwork, with an additional echo chamber above the stairway to the third floor. Though Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth could both play the piano and organ, a player attachment was added in the 1910s, allowing the organ to be used for entertainment at parties. At the time of installation, it was one of the largest residential organs in the Midwest.



Today’s living room showcases the talents of master plasterers and wood carvers. 


Hidden Doors
Pocket doors were installed for many room entrances on the first floor. Usually the doors are open but click below to see the wonderful detail work.


Dining Room
The Butterworths loved to entertain, and the current Dining Room could accommodate at least 19 people thanks to its size and unique table.

In 1892, the Hillcrest Dining Room sat further to the  east and had a fireplace.

In 1909, the room shifted to its current location when the newly designed Living Room and Music Room were added. In 1925, the room was enlarged again, adding another eight feet to the south.


One-of-a-kind Table
This one-of-a-kind piece possibly was manufactured in England prior to 1925. The materials, construction, and fine detail work indicate it was made by a master craftsman, though a specific manufacturer has not been identified. The table, made of four different woods has
hidden support legs and ten removable leaves. It can be sized for an intimate meal for two to four up to 19 place settings for a grand dinner party. See the intricate details (below) and the video (next bar) showing the table and its original chairs expanded to full size.


Special Artifacts

The Butterworths hosted many dinner parties at their residence. These unique dinner cards represent four attendees from a 1910s dinner party: Mr. Butterworth, Mrs. Velie, Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Cady.


Which dinner card is your favorite?

A special feature in the dining room, are the knife boxes sitting atop a pair of wood stands. Knife boxes originally would only have existed in the upper echelons of society in late 18th and early 19th centuries. There were two forms of knife or cutlery boxes made by Adam, Hepplewhite, Sheraton and others. The urn-shaped box with a lift-up lid is much rarer. The more common form is a sloping mahogany box, serpentine shaped in front, with divisions for holding cutlery. 

Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry 1909
Before 1909, the staff side of the Butterworths’ home included a small Kitchen and a narrow Butler’s Pantry just west of the Dining Room. The first Kitchen included a utility room, pantry, and icebox. In 1909, the Living Room, formal Dining Room, Butler’s Pantry, and Kitchen were all shifted to the west, doubling the size of the Kitchen and Pantry. Three windows were added along the south wall of the Kitchen, providing a welcoming cross-ventilation. After Mrs. Butterworth’s death, the windows were removed during the addition of a staff apartment located on the southwest corner of the home

Notice that the woodwork in the Staff Rooms is characterized by a lack of detail, in contrast to the more elaborate woodwork in the family and guest rooms. Woodwork in the Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry is plain, and door frames are either painted or covered in varnish. This less ornate style of woodwork is visible throughout the staff rooms on first, second, and third floors.


Special Kitchen Details

Made in Germany, the unique divided sink is a trademark style of the “German Silver Sink”.

brand. German Silver is made from a combination of copper, nickel, and zinc, a metal combination that provides a surface that leads to less breakage. This sink model was designed specifically to wash crystal and china and was most commonly found in a Butler’s Pantry. 

The grill hood was installed between 1922 and 1925 by the Davenport Metal Specialty Company, a manufacturer of restaurant, cafeteria, and soda fountain equipment for hotels founded by local brothers Fred and Albert Uchtdorff. After three years, however, Albert left the company and Fred founded Uchtdorff and Wieser Company, which was later called the Uchtdorff Company. During World War II, the Uchtdorff workforce was made up of one-third women who worked up to 60 hours a week. These workers were part of the female war effort movement called “the soldiers in the production of freedom.”

Butterworth Center staff seated in the staff dining room
Staff dinning
The Staff Dining and Sitting Room, where the staff ate meals and waited to be called for work, were located north of the kitchen. Also on the staff side of the house, was their own entrance to the elevator and staircase, which allowed the staff to move guest luggage quietly without disturbing the family and guests

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