Denkmann-Hauberg House is an historic building located in Rock Island, Illinois

Rock Island, Illinois

Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It was 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...

 in 1972. Today it is known as the Hauberg Civic Center.

History

The home was the home of Susanne Denkmann and John Hauberg, who were married in the “Tulip Room” the year it was completed. Susanne was an heiress and youngest daughter of Frederick Denkmann

Frederick Denkmann

Frederick Denkmann was an American lumber baron based in Rock Island, Illinois. He teamed up with his brother-in-law Friedrich Weyerhäuser and formed Weyerhäuser-Denkmann Lumber Company.-Early life:...

 who was a founding partner in the Weyerhaeuser-Denkmann Lumber Company

Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...

. Her philanthropic activities included the establishment of the West End Settlement, which provided housing and aid for those in need, the Rock Island YWCA

YWCA

The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...

, and the Denkmann Memorial Library at Augustana College

Augustana College (Illinois)

Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...

. Dr. John Hauberg was a historian who helped to establish Black Hawk’s

Black Hawk

-People:* Black Hawk , a Sauk and Fox leader of the 19th century** The Black Hawk War, named after him.* Black Hawk , a Sans Arc Lakota artist of the 19th century* Antonga Black Hawk, a Ute leader known to whites as "Black Hawk"...

 Watch Tower as a state park in 1927. Much of his personal collection helped create the John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life

John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life

John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life is located in the Black Hawk Museum and Lodge at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The museum is in an historic building that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the in 1985...

 at the park. Another one of his legacies was recording the oral histories of the area’s pioneers. Their children donated the home in 1956 to the city of Rock Island to be used as the Hauberg Civic Center.

Architecture

The Prairie style home was designed by Robert C. Spencer, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...

. He was known for blending the more modern Prairie style with historical elements, such as the half-timbering that is found on this house. The tulip, which was Mrs. Hauberg’s favorite flower, is featured stylistically throughout the exterior and interior of the structure. Spencer adapted the tulip to decorative elements such as stone insets, plaster molding, wood organ screens, fixtures and decorative tiles. Chicago landscape architect Jens Jensen

Jens Jensen

Jens August Jensen was an Australian politician and Minister for the Navy.Jensen was born in Ballarat, Victoria and educated at Ballarat, leaving school at 11. He became a rabbit-hawker and miner at Beaconsfield, Tasmania. In July 1885 he married Elizabeth Frances Broadhurst; she died in 1894...

 laid out the ten acre property to appear as a Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

woodland. A winding path and stone bridge from Jensen’s design remain on the west side of the house.