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Renwick’s sawmill on the bank of the Mississippi River in 1870.
Courtesy of Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science.

William Renwick began operating the Renwick Sawmill in Davenport, which later became the Renwick, Shaw and Crosset Company. The Sawmill was later purchased by Friedrich Weyerhäuser and Frederick Denkmann.

In the early 1930s, William’s son, William G. Renwick, who owned a large amount of property in Davenport, was heavily involved in developing the city’s Second Street, a commercial block on the north side of the street, between Brady and Perry streets.

The family’s mansion, built in 1867, still stands in Davenport today, at 901 Tremont Ave., and is open to rent for weddings and other events.

Did You Know?

Renwick Mansion, built in 1867.
Courtesy of RenwickMansion.net.

The Renwick Mansion is Davenport’s finest example of Italian Revival Villa architecture. The mansion features a large fourth-story tower overlooking Davenport and the Mississippi River. This home has 12-14 foot doors, eight bedrooms, eight fireplaces and a three-story staircase all on four acres of land in the heart of Davenport.

In 1907, the mansion became part of St. Katharine’s School. Then in 1973, it was sold and became part of a nursing home complex. The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, but later fell into disrepair. The ailing complex was purchased by a historic property developer in 1997 who renovated the St. Katherine’s location and the Renwick Mansion.

In 2007, the Renwick Mansion was updated and opened to the public as a wedding reception venue, as well as a bed and breakfast. The Renwick Mansion then opened in 2017 as a premier location for weddings and receptions.

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