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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Meet Willard Velie at English Valleys History Center
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
NORTH ENGLISH — When you’re traveling north on Main Street in North English, look upward at the taller building on the east side at 113 S Main and notice the Velie Buggies sign.
This advertising sign is a final vestige of the Mahannah Harness Shop that was built in 1900, and customers could buy their Velie Buggies there at one time over a century ago.
Willard Lamb Velie, a grandson of John Deere, was elected vice president of Deere & Company in 1908. He also founded the Velie Engineering Company, and in 1916, he merged this company with the Velie Carriage Company of Moline, which he had founded with his brother Stephen in 1907.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m., Greg Bouljon from the Quad Cities will perform as Willard Velie at the EV History Center.
Bouljon has performed over 70 lead and character roles for Playcrafters Barn Theatre, Quad City Music Guild, Richmond Hill Theatre, Ballet Quad Cities, Bluebox Limited Films, Riversong Players, New Ground Theater and the Moline Preservation Society as an actor, dancer and singer.
He has also appeared in television ads, and he has directed, produced, designed sets, and built sets for area theater productions. Greg taught at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, and is retired after 39 years of teaching in the Bettendorf, Iowa school system. Greg loves to bike, garden, write, travel, and collect gargoyles.
The English Valleys History Center is located at 108 N Main, North English, Iowa. All are invited to attend this event at no charge. Donations are accepted.
