Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
FOUR MOUNDS
FOUR MOUNDS. Four Mounds, the last remaining intact GENTLEMAN'S FARM in Iowa, was bequeathed to the City of Dubuque upon the death of Elizabeth Adams Burden in 1982. Four Mounds Foundation was founded as a non-profit organization in 1987 as a means to preserve the historic Four Mounds estate and make it available to the public for a variety of educational uses.
The estate consists of about 60 acres of bluffland along the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, comprised of cultured grounds, historic gardens, woodlands, prairie and a rare oak savanna. The 17 buildings that make up the estate are residential, farm, recreational and support structures for the site.
The site is focused around the historic Grey House, a 1908 ARTS AND CRAFTS ARCHITECTURE mansion designed by the Chicago architect Lawrence Buck. The grounds were planned out by Chicago landscape architect A. Phelps Wyman. Many buildings on the estate's farm campus were built between 1908 and 1911, including the barn/garage, chauffeur’s house, gardener's house and the root cellar. George A. BURDEN and his wife Viola developed this gentleman's farm in the country outside Dubuque in order to raise their children, George R. BURDEN and Viola. The Burdens were able to enjoy a country lifestyle, with downtown Dubuque accessible through the use of their automobile, allowing Mr. Burden to commute to work on a daily basis.
George R. Burden married Elizabeth Adams, the daughter of John Taylor ADAMS in 1924 and the second primary residence, the White House, was built for them. The architect of the White House is unknown, but it is in a traditional Colonial Revival style and always featured its signature white clapboards, columns and interior trim. The Burdens raised their three girls, Frindy, Vidie and Betsy, in the White House. Mrs. Burden occupied the home and the estate until her death.
The Burdens would not have been able to maintain Four Mounds without the help of dedicated, long-term employees. At the time of Elizabeth's death in 1982, she still had full-time, live-in staff. These people worked hard but were looked on as part of the Four Mounds family. The Heitzmans (gardeners and caretakers) lived in the lower yellow house (or Gardener's House) for six decades. Milton Kirch, the chauffeur, lived in and worked out of the upper yellow house (Chauffeur’s House) for over thirty years. He and his wife raised their three children there. Mildred or “Mo” Hahlen supervised the White House and was the cook to Bill Burden’s family for over 50 years. The Burden children said she was like a second mother to them. Hannah Driscoll played the same role at the Grey House for over 40 years. Interpretive signs highlighting the history of Four Mounds have been installed throughout the Grounds.
Contemporary uses of the site includes being open 365 days a year as a city park, hiking trails overlooking the Mississippi River, and a Challenge Ropes Course. The main buildings are operated as an Inn & Conference Center and the Four Mounds Foundation has a mission and history of using the site to benefit youth, the community and at-risk populations.
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Source:
Four Mounds: http://www.fourmounds.org/.
"Four Mounds Estate," http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/1/doc/28651/Page26.aspx
