Estate in Illinois Built by the Founder of the Lumber Company
Weyerhaeuser House - House on the Hill, Rock Island Illinois
The House on the Hill was for many years the home of Frederick E. Weyerhaeuser, German immigrant who came to this country in 1856, and with his brother-in-law, Frederick C. A. Denkmann, founded Weyerhauser and Denkmann Lumber Co. in Rock Island. This company prospered greatly and in time evolved into the firm which since 1959 has carried the name of Weyerhaeuser Company. It is now based in Tacoma, Washington, and is known world-wide as the largest of all forest products corporations. (Currently it owns 5.7 million acres of prime timberland in the Pacific Northwest, and has cutting rights on 10.6 million acres of forestland in other countries.) Of Weyerhaeuser it has been said that he was as dynamic a figure in the lumber business as was Rockefeller in Oil, James Hill or Edward Harriman in railroads, or Andrew Carnegie in steel.
When bought by Mr. Weyerhaeuser in 1865, the House on the Hill was a modest farm home; but with the burgeoning fortunes of its owner, it was transformed into a large, elegant residence. It is as a well-preserved example of a 19th Century mansion, which was, for decades, the home of a leading captain of American industry and a prominent citizen of the Quad-City Community.
In one respect the House on the Hill is unique, its magnificent dining room reflects the distinctive personal tastes and special resources of a wealthy German-born lumberman, who re-created in it the fine wood carvings and panels, and elegant furnishings probably remembered from his homeland. Indeed, much of the decorating and furnishing of the dining room was done by Old World craftsmen who were either the employees of the Weyerhaeuser-Denkmann firm or brought to this country expressly for this project.
Some reminiscences of Frederick &. Weyerhaeuser II, the youngest of the seven Weyerhaeuser children and the only one to be born in the House on the Hill, review much of the history of the residence. (It is not known when the original house was built, or who designed and erected it.) He wrote,
"The house was pretty much rebuilt in 1882-83 when the present west entrance hall and two rooms, one on each side of it, were added to the main floor with bedrooms above, including numerous bathrooms, and a third floor added to the entire structure except over the dining room extension. The third floor was of a mansard type of roof with a little tower room immediately over the main entrance. With these additions, the house became an extensive building. On the third floor, Father had built a rather large tank which … supplied water for the entire house. As the city did not supply water on the hill at that time, and we did not have modern gasoline pumps, there was installed in the basement a … force pump which … elevated water to the tank above.
"The next important change came in 1888 when the dining room was enlarged and rebuilt, the woodwork having elaborate … carvings. A beautiful little La Farge stained glass window was introduced over the fireplace … A great amount of labor was employed on this room, partly to give work to some of Father's employees …
"Finally, in preparation for the celebration of Father and Mother's golden wedding in 1907 Sam(uel Davis) and Apol (son-in-law and daughter of the the Weyerhaeusers) completely rebuilt and refurnished the house, adding closets, extending the old original entrance hall stairway on the north side to open into the second floor cross hall, and providing a sleeping porch and many other improvements, all of which make it a very lovely and livable house, large enough to accommodate the entire family under one roof at the time of the golden wedding … "
The Weyerhaeusers, who in 1907 resided in St. Paul, Minnesota, made the trip down the Mississippi on the old raft boat F. Weyerhaeuser to join their daughter and her husband at the House on the Hill for the Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Apollonia and her husband, Samuel S. Davis, were the last members of the Weyerhaeuser family to live in the house. Mr. Davis died in 1951 and his wife died in 1953. Their son, Edwin W. Davis and his wife gave thought to dismantling the exquisite dining room and having it reassembled in a museum; instead, however, they finally presented the House on the Hill and the 26 acres of land comprising the "Conet place" to Augustana College in July 1954. Augustana College has carefully maintained the house with the original furnishings and in the style of the Weyerhaeuser-Davis years. The beautiful first floor is used for receptions, luncheons, dinners, conferences, musicals, and other special occasions.
Building Description
The House on the Hill is on a 26-acre tract, once a small farm known as "the Conet place," now a part of the campus of Augustana College. It is situated midway along the northern edge of the Conet place, and faces north.
The original brick farmhouse was greatly enlarged and otherwise modified during the 85 years in which it was the home of Frederick E. Weyerhaeuser and members of his family. It is now a three story painted brick mansion with Mansard roof and tower.
The principal entry to the house is by way of a Porte-cochere on the west into a large oak paneled entrance hall with a broad sweep of staircase leading to the second and third floors. To the left of the entrance hall are two parlors distinctive with mahogany woodwork, parquet floors, and gilt-framed furniture done in French pastoral tapestries. The walls are covered with grass cloth.
Beyond the second parlor to the east is a library with walnut bookshelves and woodwork. This room has rose brocade covering the walls.
Adjoining the library is the dining room, and this is the climax, the crowning glory of the house. Though spaciousness and gracious elegance are evident throughout the house, these do not prepare one for the breathtaking splendor of the dining room, the varied appointments of which all contribute to the beauty of the whole. Obviously the "Lumber King" here employed his unusual resources most lavishly and gave play, without stint, to his passion for fine craftsmanship in fine materials, such as fabrics, metals, glass, and above all, woodwork.
In the dining room, an apple-blossom motif is carried out in carvings in the walls and ceilings, in panels of cherry wood, and in specially cast hinges, door plates, and other hardware. Over the fireplace in the east wall is a lovely stained glass window, the work of John La Farge, according to F. E. Weyerhaeuser II. Other windows are of plate glass with a three-inch bevel. Light fixtures, buffet, cupboards, leather fire screen, and Belgian lace curtains were hand made: and especially designed to match the decor of the room.
A large porch, really an outdoor parlor, extends off the east side of the house with doorways from both the library and butler's pantry. Extensive kitchen, pantry, and laundry space comprise the south wing of the house.
Oriental rugs cover the staircase and lower floors. On the windows are curtains made for the house from Belgian linen lace. Throughout are fireplaces, lighting fixtures having gas as well as electrical outlets, and servants' bells reminiscent of the earlier and more elegant life in the house.
On the second floor are several bedroom suites of excellent proportion.
A white marble and alabaster fireplace is noteworthy. The third floor has additional bedrooms and bath along with a large ballroom.
Dining room (1975)
Dining room (1975)
Front of house and west side with portico (1975)
