‘Community treasure’ bids farewell to Deere sites

After more than 38 years of giving voice to generations of John Deere’s descendants, tireless history detective and talented storyteller Gretchen Small has retired from the Butterworth Center.

The former longtime director of programming and collections for the center and the Deere-Wiman House didn’t just write the book on the Deere family landmarks located in Moline’s historic Overlook District. She admits she is a “walking, talking…