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| Has any farm dog ever had the run of such an estate? |
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A farm dog can be a faithful companion that might ride in the farm truck with its master or just bark on the back porch when a visitor comes up the drive. For years, the phrase “man’s best friend” has been associated with dogs, and one story that lingers in the Midwest is the devotion between an eccentric, wealthy man named George Metz and his dog, Bingo.
The story begins with the building of Villa Katherine, Metz’s residence for many years. The Villa Katherine sits on a bluff along the Mississippi River in Quincy, Ill., and appears to be a castle, with its mosque-like appearance.
The Villa Katherine was built after years of travel. Metz’s family owned a drug store and had connections with a furniture store. Wealthy enough not to have to work, after his mother, Catherine’s, death, Metz traveled extensively in the Mediterranean, Europe and Africa.
According to a brochure on the Villa Katherine, Metz was intrigued with the Middle East and Mediterranean architecture. The Villa ben Abhen in Morocco was Metz’s choice as a model for the Villa Katherine.
Metz returned to Quincy after his travels and convinced architect George Behrensmeyer to build what Metz considered his “dream house.” The home cost $7,000 and was completed in 1900.
It was filled with authentic furnishings, antiques and other artifacts gathered over years of travel. Although built with local materials, the Villa does not at all fit into the local architecture and stands out with its Middle Eastern influence.
Inside, the Moorish theme continues with heavy wooden beams which cross the ceiling and keyhole niches fitted into the walls. The most arresting feature of the interior is the court, which is surrounded by a gallery; the center below features a reflecting pool and above, the Villa’s atrium was originally open to the roof, where a winter glass cover would be replaced by a summer awning.
The rooms are small, but interesting, with a harem room in an attached tower. The harem room is accessible only from the roof on the second floor.
There are two main theories about the name of the Villa. One is that it was named after Metz’s mother, and the second is that it was named for a young woman named Katherine with whom Metz fell in love, but who died before the building was completed. The private Metz, who remained a bachelor, never revealed the true reason for the name or for building this Eastern home in the middle of the Midwest.
Although he had friends who often dined with him, tour guides at the Villa say that Metz’s constant companion was his beloved dog, Bingo. Brought over from Demark by Metz after one of his trips, Bingo was purchased in 1900 in Denmark and was supposed to be the largest mastiff in the world.
Rumor has it that the dog weighed in at 212 pounds and that Metz had a special addition built for the dog off the kitchen. When Bingo died, the tour guide said, “Metz supposedly buried him in the Villa’s rose garden wearing a diamond-studded collar. This legend has resulted in more than one late-night treasure hunter digging for the collar.”
The website “Weird and Haunted Illinois” states: “When Bingo died, he was buried on the grounds of the estate. Faced with the loss of his longtime friend, a cloud descended over Metz’s dream, plunging him into a terrible depression. It seems impossible for such a wonderful house to exist without at least one ghost story connected to its history, and it’s no surprise that Villa Katherine does have one resident ghost.”
The story tells that Bingo’s spirit seemingly lingered here. This may be a case where canine love surpassed even death; in any case, it makes for a good story and the tour guides tell of hearing the clicking of Bingo’s toenails on the tile floors of the house.
Farm dogs, villa dogs … it is all about companionship! The Villa Katherine is located at 532 Gardner Expressway in Quincy; call 217-224-3688 for details.
Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication. |
| 2/16/2011 |
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