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Preparing for St. Patrick's Day the 1870s way

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[March 12, 2013]  BLOOMINGTON -- It will be a slice of "Downton Abbey" in central Illinois as the 1870s Irish servants at the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington clean and prepare the home on Saturday for St. Patrick's Day.

"Upstairs/Downstairs at Bloomington's Downton Abbey" will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the day before the holiday.

Costumed storytellers will portray Irish servants who worked for the David Davis family at their 1870s mansion. Visitors may talk with the servants as they rush to complete their chores on a typically busy St. Patrick's Day and then hear what the Davis family members have to say about their efforts.

Bridget, the cook, occupies a special position in the household because she's an expert with the Magee range. She will give the stove a workout as she describes how she prepares food for the family and servants and determines how many pieces of coal it takes to bake a cake.

This family-friendly event offers a hands-on experience for children and adults. Visitors can help the servants with the preparations or sit down for a visit with Sarah Davis. They also get to sample authentic Irish recipes at the Visitor Center, where tours begin.

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The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was built in 1872 for U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Davis and his wife, Sarah. It is located at 1000 Monroe in Bloomington and is open Wednesday through Sunday for free public tours.

For more information, call 309-828-1084 or visit www.daviddavismansion.org.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]

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