Royal Neighbors of America

Royal Neighbors of America started out as a fraternal benefit society that helped women and gave life insurance, and over time, built a retirement home called the Royal Neighbors National Home, or Grandview Terrace, at 4760 Rockingham Road in Davenport, Iowa, though the organization itself is based across the river in Rock Island, Illinois. The home was created especially for women who were members, with a policy where residents once had to turn over all their assets to live there, though in 1996 they began charging rent instead, and for many years, women who moved in received care and could stay for the rest of their lives without further cost. The property became known for its Georgian Revival style building, which had a columned porch stretching across the front, a living room with big floor-to-ceiling windows, and a fireplace, giving it a classic and comfortable feel, and it stood out on its landscaped grounds, which were part of the home's historic significance. The home also had entrance markers from 1963 that replaced originals from 1931, a circular memorial fountain from 1957, and several outbuildings, though those outbuildings aren't considered historic themselves. Even though the National Register of Historic Places recognized the district and the association with the historic Royal Neighbors National Home, the main building was demolished in 2018 after the facility closed its doors on October 1, 2004, and after closure, the property was sold to investment groups so it's no longer used for senior living. There isn't any information available today about the kinds of services or care types it once offered, but the home holds a unique place in history for giving retired women members a place to live, supported by one of the country's early women's fraternal organizations. The project completed in 2014 relates to the location on Rockingham Road, though the building itself and the home are now gone, leaving just memories and some historic objects on the grounds.