Joseph F. Bettendorf House
Encyclopedia
The Joseph F. Bettendorf House, located at 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf
, Iowa
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Built as a private home, the building now houses a private school named Rivermont Collegiate
.
were industrialists in Davenport, Iowa
before their factory burned to the ground in 1902 and they moved their operation to the small town of Gilbert, Iowa, which would rename itself Bettendorf the following year. Both men built large homes in the town of Bettendorf in the early 20th century. William, born in 1857, built his home first on a 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) estate. It was completed for about $150,000 about the year 1910, but he died before it was finished. His wife and stepson lived in the residence until 1926 when it was sold to the Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF & AM, and became the Iowa Masonic Nursing Home.
Joseph Bettendorf, born in 1864, built a 28-room house from 1914-1915. Craftsmen were brought from Europe to build the home which contained marble fireplaces, marble and hardwood floors, ornate ceilings, paneling made from different woods, crystal chandeliers and lead glass windows. There is a glass covered marquee, which covers the front entrance on the north side of the home. A grand staircase on the south side of the house, leads through a terraced, landscaped garden, and is flanked by statues of guard dogs. The entire third floor was a ballroom. The basement held a card room, gymnasium, billiard room and two bowling allies. The Bettendorf's employed a staff of fifteen to care for the house and their needs.
The estate was entered through a winding driveway off of Mississippi Boulevard. It's 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) housed tennis courts, stables, a greenhouse, carriage house, and a yard to raise chickens. There were formal gardens on the north side of the property that surrounded a pond with a fountain. East of the main house was a swimming pool, which has since been filled in, and a bathhouse, which is now a private home.
The house was sold to a religious order of men in the Catholic Church called the Marists in 1959. They used the building for a seminary
. In 1973 the house was sold to St. Katharine's St. Mark’s School, a college prep school operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
. In 1980 the school amicably split with the church, and in 2001 it changed its name to Rivermont Collegiate. Over the years buildings were added to the property for use by the school. The Bettendorf Home houses the upper school and offices.
Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Bettendorf is the fifteenth largest city in the U.S. state of Iowa and the fourth largest city in the "Quad Cities". As of the 2010 United States Census the population grew to 33,217. Bettendorf is one of the Quad Cities, along with...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Built as a private home, the building now houses a private school named Rivermont Collegiate
Rivermont Collegiate
Rivermont Collegiate is a nonsectarian, independent, multicultural, college preparatory school for students - preschool through twelfth grade...
.
History
Joseph and his brother William P. BettendorfWilliam P. Bettendorf
William P. Bettendorf invented the power lift sulky plow, the Bettendorf metal wheel and the one-piece railroad truck frame. By the age of 53 he held 94 patents. With his younger brother, Joseph W. Bettendorf, he founded the Bettendorf Axel Company. His first wife and children preceded him in death...
were industrialists in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
before their factory burned to the ground in 1902 and they moved their operation to the small town of Gilbert, Iowa, which would rename itself Bettendorf the following year. Both men built large homes in the town of Bettendorf in the early 20th century. William, born in 1857, built his home first on a 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) estate. It was completed for about $150,000 about the year 1910, but he died before it was finished. His wife and stepson lived in the residence until 1926 when it was sold to the Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF & AM, and became the Iowa Masonic Nursing Home.
Joseph Bettendorf, born in 1864, built a 28-room house from 1914-1915. Craftsmen were brought from Europe to build the home which contained marble fireplaces, marble and hardwood floors, ornate ceilings, paneling made from different woods, crystal chandeliers and lead glass windows. There is a glass covered marquee, which covers the front entrance on the north side of the home. A grand staircase on the south side of the house, leads through a terraced, landscaped garden, and is flanked by statues of guard dogs. The entire third floor was a ballroom. The basement held a card room, gymnasium, billiard room and two bowling allies. The Bettendorf's employed a staff of fifteen to care for the house and their needs.
The estate was entered through a winding driveway off of Mississippi Boulevard. It's 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) housed tennis courts, stables, a greenhouse, carriage house, and a yard to raise chickens. There were formal gardens on the north side of the property that surrounded a pond with a fountain. East of the main house was a swimming pool, which has since been filled in, and a bathhouse, which is now a private home.
The house was sold to a religious order of men in the Catholic Church called the Marists in 1959. They used the building for a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. In 1973 the house was sold to St. Katharine's St. Mark’s School, a college prep school operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which covers all of Iowa. It is in Province VI. Its offices are in Des Moines, and it has two cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of St...
. In 1980 the school amicably split with the church, and in 2001 it changed its name to Rivermont Collegiate. Over the years buildings were added to the property for use by the school. The Bettendorf Home houses the upper school and offices.