Central Illinois Bed and Breakfast the Market Street Inn

Who thinks about Persimmons today? Probably not a lot of folks but the Persimmon Fest in Central Illinois at the Christian County Historical Museum sure does draw a crowd from all over the country and then some. Actually the persimmon is a sought after fruit in Asian Countries.

The Lovely and Versitile Persimmon

Persimmons are not ready to eat, at least by local standards, before they have undergone a “killing frost” and we have had one now so the persimmon harvest is coming in, they are being washed, pitted and mashed into a pulp for use in all sorts of tasty dishes including puddings, pies, steamed persimmon pudding, spiced persimmon cake and other baked goods.  Darleen Wilson is making 24 persimmon pecan pies for this event.  Abraham Lincoln would have loved Darleen’s pies.

Persimmon Bundt with Walnuts

Persimmon Bundt with Walnuts Recipe

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Myrna, our chief innkeeper, is a survivor of  6 months. Our effort in promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to invite you to a stay at the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast for the weekend of Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30 or anytime through November 21, 2010 AND  10%  of your room rate will be donated to Cups for the Cure and/or Breast Cancer Research.  The donation will be in your name.

Some special events in Taylorville, IL   

** One East Market Restaurant invites you to make a $15 donation to attend a tasting of five fabulous wines and a complimentary, hand painted wine glass.  11 am to 5 pm    You may purchase any of the wines either by the bottle or case and all proceeds will go to breast cancer awareness and research in a ten-county area in Central Illinois.

** Lunch on the “Pink Plate Special” for $8.50 and $1.00 of each lunch will go to breast cancer research.

** The drink of the day at One East Market Restaurant will be the Flirtini Special for $7.50. Each Flirtini Special sold makes a $2.50 donation to Breast Cancer Research.

** There will be a 50/50 drawing and Gift Basket Raffles.

** There will be Art Bra’s on display, one by your innkeeper, and you may let your $$ vote for your favorite and, of course, all proceeds go to breast cancer awareness and research.

** There is NO COVER CHARGE for live music by 48 Connection from 5 to 8 PM. This band is known for their roadhouse blues and rock music.

Have fun, donate to a very worthy cause and enjoy Central Illinois finest lodging.  See us at www.marketstreetinn.com/

On Sunday, October 31st, Garlic Fest II will happen at the K of C Hall in Morrisonville, IL  just about 9 miles from the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast.  Tickets are $8 at the door and what a good time you will have.  Garlic!!!!  The doors will open at 1 PM and Bagna Cauda will be ready about 1:30 PM.  This gives you time to soak up a bunch of Bagna and beer preparing for the meal which will be at approximately 3:30 PM consisting of Garlic Sausage, Slaw & Mostaccioli.  There will be music by “The Music Men” from 3:30 to 7:30 PM.  Garlic Fest II is a revived area tradition and golly, did we miss it when it was gone.  Thanks for the revival.  You cannot have more down home fun than is available here.      

Bagna Cauda Recipe

Garlic Fest II Where Garlic is King

Romance and warmth multiply in flickering firelight

We are approaching the time of year when warmth is a desirable thing. There is nothing like a flickering fire or the warm bubbling waters of a whirlpool tub for two to warm and stimulate you and your partner and enhance relaxation and romance. Both fire flicker and bubbling jets of our whirlpool rooms are available at the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast www.marketstreeinn.com.

Whirlpool Tub for Two next to a Fireplace

Most of our guest rooms have either a gas log fireplace or an electric fireplace while our Hunt Club in the Carriage House has both. Enjoy the romance, the escape and each other.

Magnificent Mansions star at the Taylorville Home Tour which will be Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 from 10 am to 6 pm.

The feature home is a 16,200 sq ft home built in the early 1960′s.

The 1883 home shown here is also another of the fine homes on the tour.

Additionally the restored Courthouse dome and rotunda will be on the tour. Tickets are available for $9.00 per person. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A special “Winter Getaway” package is available for only $26.00 which includes the tour and “Taking Tea with Mrs. Lincoln” scheduled for Saturday only and tickets for this are only available at Cottage Rose Antiques and Crafts in Taylorville, IL. This authentically British tea will begin when the doors open at 10:30 am for a promenade amog tables set by local hostesses and serving at 11:00 am. Each guest will be served 6 sandwiches, a scone, three desserts and hot tea. A vintage and contemporary style show will be presented during tea time. For advance tickets, which are limited, call 217-824-9447. Make your reservation for your overnight stay at the Market Street Inn and ask for our Christmas Home Tour Special:   one night, single occupancy in whirlpool tub room w/ tea & tour     150.00;  one night, double occupancy w/ tea & tour, 175.00;   two nights w/ tea & tour, single occupancy –275.00;  two nights w/ tea & tour, double occupancy–295.00.   Act now due to limited ticket availability for tea.  Non-cancelable.

Lincoln once said, “To this place, and the kindness of its people, I owe everything.” He was speaking to the community of Springfield Illinois, where he made a home for himself and found his wife.

Today, much of what made Springfield a home to Lincoln is still here. His law office, which he ran with his partner William H. Herndon, is now on the registrar of historic places, and one can take a tour of the historic building. In the summertime, there is a costumed guide portraying Lincoln’s clerk.

Market Street Inn is near Springfield IL Lodging. We are approximately 29 miles from Springfield.

There are several other interesting historical Lincoln sites in Springfield. One can visit Lincoln’s home; the

Abe Lincolin's Home in Springfield IL

only home he ever owned, where he lived for 17 years before leaving for Washington D.C.

It was also here in Lincoln Hometown that Abe delivered his “House Divided” speech. It was during the Republican National Convention; only after that speech did the concept of a “divided House” become common terminology.

Lincoln addressed the people of Springfield at the train depot before leaving to take office in the White House. It was here that he spoke the kind words about his community members quoted at the top of this page. You can visit this Great Western Railroad Station, where Lincoln bid farewell to his friends and family to take on the greatest responsibility of his life.

And, of course, Lincoln’s tomb is also here in Springfield. After his assassination, his remains were returned to the town he loved so much, and great speeches to his unparalleled service were spoken. His tomb is a sizable 117-foot tower, and contains the bodies of his wife and three of four sons. The outside of the tomb features sculptures of Lincoln, and inside are many excepts from Lincoln’s speeches and famous words. It is a powerful place, and an essential part of any visit to Lincolnland.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, an extraordinary new facility, opened just a few years ago.   It is open 7 days weekly w/ Wednesday being the late day.   One should allow approximately 4 hours for this tour.   

I hope you will come to visit us, and Lincoln, soon. There is a wreath-laying ceremony at his tomb on February 12. Starting in June and throughout the summer there is a flag lowering ceremony every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the tomb.

A humble man, Lincoln remains alive because what he did with his life affects us all today. Come and visit the home of this American hero.

Our 1892 Queen Anne Victorian inn is located in the town of Taylorville, a central Illinois community in Lincolnland. Taylorville was sometimes referred to as “the last stop” by Lincoln and his cohorts; it was the last place Lincoln traveled to on his circuit. Lincoln and his fellow lawyers, including Stephen A. Douglas, rode the 8th judicial circuit.

Our courthouse, now part of the Christian County Historical Museum,  was the site of many Lincoln trials. The Courthouse, built in 1839, has been totally restored, using the original architectural specifications for construction. Interior furnishings echo other old courtrooms of the period. The museum complex also includes other buildings of the period as well as a local history museum.

The Taylorville Courthouse

Recently Christian County further restored the lovely courthouse by exposing a spectacular glass dome that had been hidden by a false ceiling. The courthouse is the center of town square, flanked by a number of shops and restaurants. Come and check out our historic town, where Lincoln exerted his political influence. We look forward to seeing you at our Illinois Bed and Breakfast!