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Bryant
Cottage State (217) 678-8184 Photograph by Virginia Dahms © 1998 |
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Bryant
Cottage State (217) 678-8184 Photograph by Virginia Dahms © 1998 |
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Bryant Cottage was built by Bement businessman Francis Bryant in 1856. The four-room cottage is open to the public seven days a week for tours, twelve months a year, with extended hours on special days throughout the year. For groups of 15 for more, arrangements are available by calling (217) 678-8184.
The cottage is tastefully appointed with period furnishings throughout each of the warm and charming rooms. During December, Bryant Cottage hosts a Holiday Candlelight Open House on the second Sunday of December. Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met at this very site in Bement to discuss the format for the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. Douglas was known to have been a close associate of Francis Bryant of Bement. See Lincoln & Douglas at Bryant Cottage by Jim Fay, Ph.D. |
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| Special Events at Bryant Cottage: |
Flag Day June 14th, Public Celebration 7:00 p.m. |
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4th of July, Patriotic Rally, 9 a.m. Speeches, special readings |
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Summer Heritage Worship Service in July |
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Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social in July |
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Autumn Homecoming Ham & Bean Lunch in October 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Everyone Welcome |
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Holiday Candlelight Open House & Carriage Rides 2nd Sunday in December, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. |
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All events at Bryant Cottage State Historical Site are free and open to the public. Bryant Cottage State Historic Site is a member of the Bement Area Chamber of Commerce. The above
photograph of Bryant Cottage State Historical Site with its lovely redbuds
and dogwoods in bloom was taken by Virginia Dahms on the day of the
ground-breaking dedication of the Bement Veterans Memorial project in
nearby Bement City Park. The Bement Veterans
Memorial was dedicted on July 4, 1998. |