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Special night awaits 'Tallman for Two' winners

JANESVILLE — Looking for something unique to get your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day?

How does an intimate Victorian-style dinner for two catered by the Armory and served in the historic Lincoln-Tallman House sound?

For a chance to make that happen, you’ll need to buy at least one $20 raffle ticket by Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center, 426 N. Jackson St.

Revenue from the raffle will be used to create the Rock County Historical Society’s 2013 educational program, said Michael Reuter, executive director.

Included in the dinner package is a multi-course meal that will combine contemporary culinary delights with Victorian customs of the era when the Tallman family lived in the 26-room mansion.

The raffle winner and a guest also will get to take an evening tour of the five-level house, be entertained by music and served by a personal wait staff throughout the night.

Reuter said it would be great if the historical society could sell 100 raffle tickets and make $2,000.

To date, only 10 tickets have been sold. Still, Reuter is pleased.

“I’m anticipating a spike in ticket sales after the first of the year,’’ he said.

Reuter also plans to reinvigorate and market the raffle again after the holidays.

If successful, Reuter would like to introduce regular dinner reservations at the Lincoln-Tallman House.

“This is actually in my strategy for making the Tallman House and Rock County Historical Society sustainable, more vibrant and relevant in the community,” he said.

Reuter said the raffle is more than just about generating revenue.

“It’s to get people to think differently about the (Lincoln-Tallman) house and the historical society, which is an emerging trend happening with small museums and historical societies that are connecting more intimately with communities they serve,” he said.

“Tallman for Two” is just the beginning of several initiatives the historical society is rolling out in 2013 to make the Lincoln-Tallman house more accessible to the public, Reuter said.

“It is important for the residents of Rock County to see that the house can provide additional value other than as a museum,” he said.