Clothes Loft

RICHS Clothes Loft is located on the second floor of the Carriage House. The loft is made up of four storage rooms, a work room and a display room. It is home to a large collection of textile items that spans from circa 1780 up to the 1970's. Most all items have been donated by Rock Island County residents or their family members. The collection includes a dress worn by Mrs. William Butterworth, gauntlet gloves and goggles from the Velie family, Mrs. John Deere's morning dress, a bridesmaid dress from the Hauberg-Sweeney wedding, a petticoat from the Denkmann family, a dress worn by Miriam Weeks when she attended a DAR reception at the White House when Theodore Roosevelt was president, and a horsehair blanket used by Charles Quade a rural mail carrier, in Hillsdale, Illinois. Not all items can be traced back to prominent families of Rock Island County, but all are important to the collection. Camisoles to tuxedos, baby shoes to military items and work clothes to fancy frills represent the lives and history of the people of Rock Island County. The RICHS clothing loft accepts donations from all time periods. It is preferred that the items have some connection to Rock Island County. Contact RICHS to donate or for more information.

The carriage house/clothes loft is open during the spring and fall open houses and by appointment.   If you are going to be in the Quad-Cities area (Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, Illinois, or Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa) be sure to stop and see us. The library  is open Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Telephone (309)764-8590 to make an appointment.