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Moline Historic Landmarks
To qualify for Landmark
status, a property must be at least 50 years old and meet
one of five criteria: 1) significant as part of heritage,
architecture, archaeology and culture of the nation, state
or city; 2) exhibit integrity of location, design,
setting, materials, workmanship or association; 3)
association with historic events or important person(s);
4) display distinctive construction, workmanship or high
artistic value; 5) be part of a historic district.
Moline currently has twelve historic landmarks, two of
which are included on the National Register of Historic
Places.
 Moline Public Library
504 17th Street
Built in 1903 Architects F.F. Borgolte and William Wells,
Moline's Carnegie Library is Neoclassical in style and
notable for its full height entry porch supported by four
massive ionic columns. The Library was built at a cost of
$65,000 (including $10,000 for the site), with $40,000
donated by philanthropist steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.
The interior is graced with five fireplaces, a magnificent
oak staircase and several original tin ceilings.
Moline Landmark, April 1993.
Davenport, Rock Island & N.W. Depot
2021 River Drive
Built
in 1900, this rail depot was in use until 1934 when it was
sold and converted into offices for the former Frank
Foundry Company. It is eclectic in style with its long,
low-profile, brick facade, hipped red tile roof and front
facing parapet with ornate clock. The City of Moline
purchased the depot in 1994 renovating it for use as a
Visitor Center with office space for the Quad Cities
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Moline Landmark, June 1994.
 Mitten, Rosborough, Ball House
1235 11th Avenue
This Queen Anne home was built for William Ball in 1901.
After John Deere's death in 1886, Ball resigned his
executive position with Deere & Company and went on to
other successful endeavors in Moline, including serving as
a city councilman and school board member. This Queen Anne
home retains its original slate roof, curved glass windows
and other exterior decorations.
Moline Landmark, October 1994.
 Former #3 Fire Station
502 3rd Avenue River Drive
The former #3 Fire Station was built in 1908 and was in
continuous use until 1995 when it was sold and put to
adaptive reuse as a boat and bike shop. The building is
considered to be of the Arts and Crafts style of
architecture and was designed by Olaf Z. Cervin, a noted
local architect. The first floor originally provided space
for two wagon bays, with stalls for five horses. A large
hay loft area and sleeping quarters were located on the
second floor. The tower on the west side of the building
was used for drying the long hoses after each use. When
motorized fire trucks replaced horse-drawn carts, the
station was modified with the hay loft turned into a
fitness room utilized by the firemen and by the
neighborhood children.
Moline Landmark, February 1996.
 Former #4 Fire Station
2704 4th Avenue
Built in 1910, this brick Prairie Style fire station was
built to accommodate horse drawn fire apparatus. The
station's hose drying tower was built within the confines
of the two-story structure utilizing the basement to
accommodate the needed space extension. The station was in
continuous use until 1989 when the City opted to move this
station's crew to another location. The station has since
been utilized by the city's Second Alarmers, an active
volunteer Fire Fighters organization.
Moline Landmark, February 1996.
 George
W. Johnson Home 1440
12th Street
Built
in 1907, this Neoclassical home epitomizes the success of
the Moline Furniture Works of which Mr. Johnson was a major
stockholder and director. This company is noted for having
made all the U.S. Supreme Court benches as well as the
desks for all the Senators and Representatives of the
Illinois Assembly. Mr. Johnson designed the home, notable
for its full height entry porch, supported by four massive
ionic columns. An offset porte-cochere provides access to
the home's main entrance. The interior is resplendent with
carved woodwork done by craftsmen from the Moline
Furniture Works.
Moline Landmark, May 1997.
 Scottish
Rite Cathedral 1800 7th Avenue
On
the former site of the Stillman Wheelock mansion, this
Gothic Revival style cathedral was built in 1930 for the
Valley of Moline Scottish Rite Masonry organization.
Designed by local architect William H. Schulzke, the
building's facade is faced with a variegated Bedford
limestone with the roof covered with blue-black Bangor
slate. The interior includes the Cathedral Hall with
decorative art glass windows, reception and banquet rooms,
a ballroom and numerous ornate lodge rooms.
Moline Landmark, August 1999.
 Atkinson-Peek House
822 11th Avenue
A Colonial Revival home built in 1877 by Edmund Atkinson,
Burton Peek, John Deere's nephew, purchased the home in
1902 and remodeled the home in 1910. It remained in the
family until 1962 when it was donated to the Rock Island
County Historical Society by Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman.
Moline Landmark, April 2002.
 C.I. Josephson's Clock
5th Avenue & 15th Street
The Josephson cast iron Seth
Thomas eight-day post clock is extremely rare. The clock
stands eighteen feet tall and weighs approximately 4,000
pounds. C.I. Josephson purchased the clock in 1912
and erected it on the sidewalk in front of his jewelry
store located at 1514 - 5th Avenue, Moline. Due to its
size, it was highly visible on the Avenue and became a
popular landmark for shoppers when they came downtown.
The clock remained on the Avenue until 1984. At
this time, Josephson's Jewelry Store relocated across
from the city's Shopping Mall and took the clock with
them.
In 2002, William Nusser,
owner of Josephson's Jewelry, announced that the 121
year old business was closing. Upon hearing this, local
preservationists suggested that the clock be brought
back to Fifth Avenue to be part of the area's
revitalization efforts. Mr. Nusser like the idea and
donated the clock to the City of Moline. Volunteers came
forward to assist with its restoration and First Midwest
Bank offered to cover all necessary cost. In
October of 2004, after undergoing extensive restoration,
the clock was reset just 25 feet West of its original
location on Fifth Avenue. Moline Landmark, October
2004.
 C.I.
Josephson House 1925 Sixth Avenue
This Queen Anne style was built in 1893. The home
retains many of its architectural details such as the
three story turret with windows in all three stories and
the wraparound porch. Mr. Josephson was instrumental in
the development of downtown. Along with operating a
successful business (Josephson Jewelers), Mr. Josephson
was an advocate for moving the business district from
Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue.
Moline Landmark, February 9, 2010.
Moline Landmarks on the National Register of
Historic Places
 LeClaire Apartments
421 19th Street
Built in 1922, the LeClaire Hotel was named after Antoine
LeClaire, a French settler who deeded a large landholding
for what became part of the original plat of Moline. A
luxury hotel in close proximity to the railroad depot, its
rooms have hosted celebrities and presidents including
John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. After ten years without
an owner, the Alexander Company undertook extensive
renovations in 1995-96, converting the Hotel into
apartments.
Moline Landmark, October 1993; National Register of
Historic Places, 1993.
John Deere House 1217 11th Avenue
John Deere purchased the small Italianate home of grocer
William Dawson in 1875, and after five years of
renovations moved into the more fashionable Second Empire
home, named Red Cliff by Deere's daughter Alice. Although
John Deere died in 1886, the Deere family occupied the
home until 1934, from which time it was divided into
fourteen apartments and finally abandoned. In 1996 the
home and its property were purchased by a private owner
with plans to renovate the home and open it as a Bed and
Breakfast and public event space. A completion date is
uncertain at this time. Moline Landmark, August 2002; National Register of
Historic Places, 2003.
*For a list of all National Register properties in the
State of Illinois, visit the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency.
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