Central Illinois Bed and Breakfast the Market Street Inn

Brenda and Gary Spurling, owners of Spurling Title Service have embarked on a facelift of their location on the South Side of the Taylorville, IL Town Square. The Square and a block or so in each direction have long been designated on the National Registry of Historic Places and restoration of many of the building facades are taking place.

Facelift for an old building

Please note the date on the peak of the facade as being 1892. This building and the Market Street Inn were both built in the same year, only 400 years after Columbus discovered America.

The pressed metal facade has been scraped of loose paint and is being painted in a complementing color scheme. Prior to this the building front was all white which is still visible in the lower right corner.
If you note the building to the left, a brick structure, you will see a facelift which was accomplished several years ago by Brett Mason.

Architectural enthusiasts will find cast iron facades by Mesker Brothers and Capitol Iron Foundry in our historic district as well. We love it when folks walk and gawk at the remaining beauty of our square. 

This is the time of year when many Central Illinois villages hold festivals and none of them are to be missed. Each is unique in its atmosphere just because of all of the “Local Heart” and work and cooperation which it takes to plan, create and execute a one day event let alone a 3 day event. Stonington Summerfest has an agenda of events, food competitions, entertainment, lunches and dinners, the Grand Parade, the beer tent and whatever else to fill a week all stuffed into 2.5 days. The grand finale is a bigger and better than ever fireworks display at dusk on Sunday evening, June 17. You are all invited to attend and have a good time.

We had a house full all weekend and our guests really enjoyed the fare. Memorial Day breakfast consisted of Egg Strada with fresh dill from our garden, sausage patties, watermelon and buttermilk biscuits

This entree was followed by a “sweet ending” of St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake.

We had guests from all over Illinois, New York City and St. Louis

June 2, all day Saturday there will be a Annual Juried Art Fair with artists from up and down the state and beyond–jewelry, paintings, pottery, wood turnings,and other original art.  This annual event is sponsored by the Taylorville Area Arts Council which will be judged that day with prizes awarded in various categories.    Some of the participating artists have enjoyed national recognition for their work.

June 1, 2 and 3  The Blackhorse Native American Pow Wow will be held at the Christian County Fairgrounds in Taylorville IL   This event attracts artists, performers, traders and vendors from native American tribes across the US.

Come stay at the Market Street Inn for this event filled  weekend.  Call 217.824.7220and ask about our two night special.

Reserve your room, come, stay, attend and enjoy

Please click on Parrot Head

Parrot Head

Parrottheads unite!

Where?:  One East Market Restaurant and Jazz Lounge located at 1oo East Market Street in Taylorville, Illinois

When?:  Saturday, February 18, 2012

Why?:  Because there will be a night of fun, music, prizes, etc. with a Jimmy Buffet theme and mode of dress.  http://breezecourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=76&SubSectionID=618&ArticleID=122403&TM=76100.91

Purpose?:  A fund raiser for Taylorville Lake Shore Golf Course http://breezecourier.com/main.asp?sectionid=76&subsectionid=618&articleid=122376&tm=75643.22

Where to stay?:  The Market Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, but come in on Friday and spend two nights just 2 blocks from the party.

More fun:  Saturday, February 18, 2012 beginning at 2 PM is the Monthly Market Street Inn BYO Wine Share and Taste Event as a warm up to the party at One East this evening.

Note:  Jimmy Buffet ain’t gonna be there but somebody named Jimmy might.  Anyway, a good time will be had by all.  Yes, there is a small cover charge.  Hey, it’s a fund raiser.

The lovely and little known persimmon is the focus of a festival, known as the Persimmon Party, held annually on the grounds of the Christian County Historical Society in Taylorville, IL.  This is a unique event in that it is one of only 3 such festivals for the persimmon in the U.S.  Persimmons seemingly have diminished in importance and usage to the American public over the years and cultivation of the trees is not as prominent at it once was even though the tasty fruit has many important food and medicinal properties.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persimmon .

Every year, when the persimmons ripen, members of the Chrisitan County Historical Society http://www.taylorville.net/Historical_Society.htm gather and “pulp” the persimmons and package and freeze the pulp and have it waiting for the folks who attend the Persimmon Party to purchase and take home to use in delectable dishes for their table.  What a great addition to your Thanksgiving Dinner.  This year the Annual Persimmon Party will be November 12 and 13, 2011.  What a great time to come to Taylorville for fun , food and festivities.  There are always a variety of foods, made from the persimmon pulp, to sample maybe including Persimmon Drop Cookies and Persimmon Pudding as shown belowCookies and Persimmon Pudding as shown below.  The Christian County Historical Society has two Persimmon Cookbooks for sale to provide ideas about how to use the persimmon pulp you purchase during your visit.

                                                                                                     

The Christian County Historical Society grounds are comprised of a variety of buildings of historical value including a Bee Castle and the original Christian County Courthouse in which Abraham Lincoln practiced law on the Illinois 8th Judicial Circuit.  Please take the time to pay a visit to our Facebook Page and like us.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-County-Illinois-Historical-Society-and-Museum/137053123008672

Come to Christian County Illinois for fun, history and good times.  The county seat of Christian County is Taylorville, Illinois where you will find all sorts of restaurants, lodging and even more history.  We are located just 30 minutes from both Springfield and Decatur, Illinois.

Many years ago it was a tradition to Parade in one’s Easter finery along the Avenue and meet and greet and see and be seen by one and all.  Several inspired young ladies of fashion in Taylorville are recreating this tradition on Saturday, April 23 at 1:30 PM around the National Historic Registry Taylorville Square.  

Come and participate in our Easter Parade (Promenade_)

  Note!!!  This is not only for ladies of fashion but gentlemen as well.  Ladies, wear your Easter Bonnet and your finery and gentleman, wear your chapeau and fine suitings as well.  Don’t have a chapeau or a bonnet?  Go online and Google Easter Bonnet and Easter Parade and create your own.  What we want is participation.

The Taylorville Square is on the National Registry of Historic Places and has buildings dating back to the late 1800″s.  What a great place to meet and greet friends, both old and new.

Here are a couple of young ladies who have been hunting Easter Eggs in their beautiful attire.  Did I mention Easter Egg Hunt?  Yes, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt on the green of  the Courthouse Square sponsored by the Taylorville Kiwanis Club.  Eggs will contain various stuffings for the pleasure of the lucky who find them.  You might even expect a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Beginning at 1:30 PM is the Easter Promenade and remember, “This is not all about the girls!”  Men, come out and show your manhood by dressing up and parading with a finely dressed lady.  Or, perhaps, “Man’s Best Friend.”

 Of course, well behaved dogs are welcome, especially when attired in the finest of fashion.

After the Promenade, beginning at 2:30PM, there will be a wine tasting in the Shumway Room at One East Market Restaurant and Jazz Lounge.  Please come and enjoy.  Make a dinner reservation, go home and change and come back in your dancing  shoes to enjoy the sounds of The Big Shake Daddies.  You will be glad you did.

Easter is the Celebration of the Rebirth of Christ and what a great to do this.  Of course, folks from Miles Around and other well known cities are invited to join in and make this celebration the success it should be.  Happy Easter from the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast.

This is just a simple note to wish each and everyone of you who may read this blog a Happy Thanksgiving from Central Illinois and the staff at our Springfield, IL and Decatur, IL area  inn.  We hope you are having or going to have one of the finest family and friend gatherings of your lifetime.  May you all be blessed throughout your lives.  Thank you to all of our guests past and future.

All the best to you,

Myrna & Joe Hauser

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