Back at the turn of the last century as A.B. Seelye built his monolithic mansion on north Buckeye Avenue, his wife, Jennie Taylor Seelye, had visions of parties and other high society events in her new, lavish home. Mrs. Seelye often hosted teas for her social acquaintances, featuring finger sandwiches, scrumptious desserts made by the mansion chefs, and fine tea. As a special Mother’s Day weekend celebration of the Seelyes and how they entertained Presidents, Congressmen, Senators and Abilene’s elite, the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad and the Seelye Mansion invite you to experience this colorful chapter of Kansas history. Our diner train, the Smoky Valley Limited will feature “Teatime with Jenny Seelye,” a train ride that features a two-hour mansion tour at 10:00 a.m., followed by a tea party on the train at 1:00 p.m. Abilene baker Amanda Collins is serving chicken salad finger sandwiches with a hit of curry, as well as recreating some dessert recipes that were served at social events as the mansion, including current scones with Devonshire style cream, fruit salad, cheese puffs, devils food cake with Seelye chocolate icing, and old fashioned lemon bars. Black English breakfast tea or Seelye old fashioned fruit punch will also be served. Seeyle Mansion curator Terry Tietjens will narrate the history of social events at the mansion as we take a two-hour round trip ride on the historic rails of the former Rock Island/MKT railroad. The train leaves Abilene’s historic Rock Island Depot at 1:00 p.m. Book your reservations for this special Seelye Mansion tour and get a taste of early 1900s Abilene society on this special Mother’s Day weekend Smoky Valley Limited!
