Hauberg Estate Newsletter October - December 2022 (Copy)
WILLKOMMEN BEIM OKTOBERFEST QC!
(Welcome to Oktoberfest QC!)
The Hauberg Estate and German American Heritage Center present the 2nd Annual OKTOBERFEST QC on Saturday, October 22nd at the Hauberg Estate. OKTOBERFEST QC is a great community event showcasing one of Germany’s traditional cultural celebrations.
Doors open at 12 noon followed by the traditional tapping of the beer barrel. The event will feature family activities, games and food vendors. At 4:30pm musical entertainment begins at 4:30pm, and the crowning of the evening’s
Queen and King will take place at 8pm. You might even want to wear the traditional attire as you bring a little bit of “Gemutlichkeit” an atmosphere of comfort, peace and acceptance. It’s what Oktoberfest is all about!
The annual event benefits two QC non-profit organizations, the Hauberg and GAHC. Tickets are $10 in advance, available at Eventbrite and $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are free.
Director’s Desk
When we say the Hauberg Estate is a community gathering place, it’s not just talk! We have had some beautiful weddings, a fun class reunion and lovely luncheons recently. Now we’re looking forward to more weddings, private and corporate holiday parties. If you’re having an event of your own, please give me a call at 309-373-5080. I’d be happy to give you a tour and talk about your “gathering.” Let’s get together soon, so your special date can get on the books.
The community has been coming out to some great Hauberg events with more scheduled between now and the end of the year. Watch for details on these upcoming activities at the estate:
Architecture and Carriage House tours, Thursdays at 6pm through October.
OKTOBERFEST QC on Saturday, October 22nd beginning at noon.
Annual Meeting of the Friends of Hauberg Civic Center on November 16th at 6:30pm. If you haven’t been here recently it will be a great opportunity to hear about what we’ve been doing, our plans for the year ahead and a special membership announcement
Winter In Bloom on Sunday, December 4th from noon to 5pm. Freddie & Friends Holiday Concert, on Sunday, December 18th at 2pm.
Before I close, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who have donated to our capital campaign so far. Please come by and see the flurry of construction that’s currently underway.
Thank you also to the 178 volunteers and 12 volunteer coordinators who participated in the United Way Day of Caring. It’s through volunteers that we are able to keep the estate beautiful and available for the entire community to enjoy.
Please accept my personal invitation to gather with us in the coming months and enjoy all the Hauberg Estate has to offer.
Deb Kuntzi
Executive Director
Around the Garden
Restoring the historic Jens Jensen landscape design is a rewarding undertaking. It’s part archaeology when you unearth an original stair walkway through the estate that’s been buried for decades. It was serious detective work that found the council ring and volunteers are now preparing the site for the new council ring. In addition, here’s an environmental element as workers and volunteers restore and rebuild the ponds to handle storm water and keep it from flooding neighboring streets. Now the waterfall can be rebuilt with Tufa Limestone. A road trip to Ohio to get just the right stone was followed by hard work to begin restoring the waterfall. The concrete bottom extends 25 feet and is in great shape.
Most of the work is being done by volunteers who love a challenge and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. A huge thank you to the donors who have allowed this project to get underway. The progress is great. The reward will be the beautiful restoration of the pond system, walkway and council ring.
The Magnificent Mansion
Winter in Bloom
The beauty of the Hauberg Mansion will once again sparkle at the Winter In Bloom holiday open house. Mark your calendars for December 4, from noon to 5pm. The event is free and open to all.
Winter In Bloom is a great family event enjoyed by all ages. The little ones will enjoy crafts, games and a visit with Santa. There will be live music, cookies and cocoa for everyone. The always popular horse-drawn carriage rides will be back again this year. A Cash Bar will also be open.
Watch our Facebook page for volunteer opportunities to help with decorating and cookie donations.
AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Philanthropy of the Hauberg Family
leading philanthropists in the community. Today, that generosity is being repaid by donors and grantors with funds that are being used to restore and maintain a community jewel, the Hauberg Estate.
Susanne Denkmann Hauberg established the West End Settlement, was a founder of the Rock Island Y.W.C.A. and supported various children’s camps. She and her siblings, donated the funds for the Denkmann Memorial Library at Augustana College. She was a strong supporter of child
welfare agencies. Her terraced garden grew tons of fruits and vegetables which she shared with friends, neighbors and members of the local community.
John H. Hauberg was instrumental in securing the Black Hawk’s Watch Tower as a state park in 1927. His personal collection created the John Hauberg Indian Museum. One of his lasting legacies was as a recorder of oral histories of the area’s early settlers, housed at the Rock Island County Historical Society Library. An avid photographer, his glass slides and photographs are in Special Collections at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.
Catherine Hauberg Sweeney and her husband purchased the Kampong Botanical Garden in Coconut Grove, Florida. They were committed to preserving the property and its gardens which they donated to the federal government. It is now one of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. She and her brother donated the Hauberg Estate to the Rock Island community in 1956.
John Hauberg Jr. was a co-founder with acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly of the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, Washington. He was a generous supporter of art, music and educational institutions in Washington state. The John H. Hauberg Fellowship was created to support the artistic collaboration he encouraged.
Our volunteers are amazing. Some like to be outside and keep the grounds looking good. They create their own family memories learning to plant flowers. There are people who prefer the mansion projects and those who like to use their creative skills to help decorate and organize for events.
The Hauberg Estate means different things to different people and we love to hear their stories of the role the estate has played in their lives.
We call our volunteers and donors true Friends of Hauberg. It wouldn’t be possible without them all. Learn more about volunteerism and become a Friend of Hauberg at the upcoming annual meeting, November 16th at 6:30pm at the Hauberg Estate mansion.
