Bettendorf Elegance - News and Weather For The Quad Cities -

Bettendorf Elegance

Updated: Oct 22, 2012 03:04 PM CDT
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Almost one hundred years after it was built, The Joseph Bettendorf Mansion maintains its elegance. The building has been a home, seminary, and today a school.

The mansion has a very special connection. Joseph Bettendorf had it built in 1914. Joseph and his brother William made much of their money during the Golden Age of the Railroad Industry. They operated a business which made steel parts for railroad cars.

In 1903, the brothers moved their business from Davenport to a river town named Gilbert. Gilbert was renamed Bettendorf in honor of the Bettendorf family.

The Joseph Bettendorf Mansion still has the original Italian marble floors. There is a  conservatory with fabric handpainted ceilings. The building also has a Japanese Tea Room, an ornate staircase, and several fireplaces. Only one of the fireplaces was ever designed to work. There is also an underground tunnel connecting the mansion to a carriage house.

Today, the building is home to Rivermont Collegiate. Students think the ivy covered walls and spacious surroundings add to the character. As one student points out, the building makes her think about how the city got started and what the Bettendorf family meant to the community.