The Dispatch from Moline, Illinois • 59

Sunday, February 3, 2013 The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus F5 Travel Business CALENDAR How to visit England's 'real' Downton Abbey Mi Uakhy Newspapers The cast of the hit PBS series 'Downton which is filmed at England's Highdere Castle. Fans can tour the castle and its grounds. Rescued California seals She Aquarium, 2000 South laxe Shore Drive, Chicago 20 moi old Cruz is blind Tanner is a 1 5 year old 500-pound male shid daquarium org McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, ice skating through March 10 Milieu mum Park on Michigan Avenue and Washington St, Chicago free cityofchicago org Space Junk 3D. Adler Planetarium, 1 300 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago (312)922 7827 adlerplanetanum org. Jellies, Shedd Aquarium, 1200 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago Learn how jellies bodies are 95 percent water and their feeding arms can grow up to 8 feet, how jellies travel thousands of miles on a current, and how the tiniest jelly could nestle into a contact lens while the largest couldn't squeeze into a minivan sheddaquanum org Maxwell Street Market Sundays 7 a -3 Desplaines Street and Roosevelt Road, Chicago fret admission explorechicago org Green City Market Wednesdays and Saturdays, south end of Lincoln Park, near 1 750 Clark Chicago City's only year round farmers' market offers produr ts from local, sustainable farmers and producers and features chef demonstrations, educational programming and special events chicagogreencitymarket org calendar Science Storms, Museum of Science Industry, 5700 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago Swirling 40-foot tornado, bolts of lightning, trigger an avalanche or unleash a tsunami wave in this 26, 000-square foot exhibit msichicagoorg Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, rock formations, cliffs and trails of the Shawnee National Forest Off Illinois 34 in Karbers Ridge (618) 287-2201 Illinois getaway, Illinois Bureau of Tourism interactive website aims to match travelers with a three day getaway in Illinois Visit the Getaway Match Profile Quiz on enjoyillinois com to learn which of 18 themed getaways is right foi you The redesigned website also features new ways to plan atrip find the latest hotel packages and deals and easily access complete details on year-round events and festivals across the state Clark House Museum Tours, 1827 Indiana 5t Chicago This 1836 Greek Revival-style building is Chicago's oldest home See what life was like for a middle class family in Chicago during the city's formative years before the Civil War (312)326-1480 darkehousemuseum org GEOQUIZ Q.

Lake Havasu is on the border between California and which other state? '6uo sapuj inoqe si 'se6aA qjnos Sdjitu 09 1 'JiOAjasaj aqx jaAiy opeJO0 aqj sso-oe papaja spm weQ jajej uaqM sof 6 1 aqj ui paujjoj spm ipiijM 'ajC aqj jo ajoqs ujajsea aqi uo si euozuy rjaMSiiy BY DIANE W.STONEBACK The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) Englands Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey, has a past thats every bit as colorful and riveting as the hit Masterpiece" series filmed within its walls. Besides serving as the main set for the hit PBS series that recently premiered its third season, this imposing landmark and the land it occupies has been home to generations of the Earls of Carnarvon since 1679. Its an amazing place to wake up in. Ive never lost my sense of wonder for it, said Lady Fiona, the current Countess of Carnarvon, who lives at Highclere with her husband, the Eighth Earl of Carnarvon. She has written a book about the castle, which occupies a lofty hilltop in southern England and welcomes a limited number of visitors each year.

At the forefront of British high society for much of its history, the castle has sheltered some of Britains most privileged celebrities (including a future king) and has its own hints of intrigue, a World War I period of public service, a stunning link with ancient Egypt and the shadow of a pharaohs curse. At times, threads of it even have been woven into Downton Abbey Watching all three seasons of Downton surely will stoke PBS fans desire to visit the castle. Happily, they can tour the grounds where Robert, Lord Grantham, walks his Labrador retriever; enjoy the gardens where Violet, the Dowager Countess, sometimes takes tea; and see the castles main rooms where the lives of the Crawley family and their servants unfold. But the castle opens only for 70 days a year, and its tour tickets are as hot as the PBS Masterpiece series. In case you cant visit, or to develop an appreciation for the castles own history before you go, read Lady Fionas book, Lady Almina, and the Real Downton Abbey, The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle (Broadway Paperbacks, $15.99, 320 Lady Almina, wife of the Fifth Earl of Carnarvon, is believed to have been the illegitimate daughter of wealthy banker Sir Alfred de Rothschild and his French mistress.

Like Lord Granthams wife, Cora, her fortune not only kept a roof over the familys heads but also fueled Highcleres website (www. highclerecastle.co.uk) and snap up the online tickets as soon as they become available even before making your plane reservations! Your Highclere ticket gets you in the door to see many rooms used for "Downton Abbey scenes, including the salon, drawring room, music room, smoking room, dining room, a few' bedrooms and the library (Lady Fionas favorite place). Guests also can pay a bit more to visit the castles cellars containing its Egyptian exhibition. Morning or afternoon ticket holders have 2 1 2 hours to tour the castles interior and the cellar rooms of the Egyptian exhibition. After that, they still can walk the grounds and hiking trails, tour the gardens, shop for gifts and have lunch in its tearoom.

Thanks to Downton Abbey our home has an amazingly high profile and has become one of the best-known stately homes in the world, Lady Fiona says. According to Masterpiece figures, the program garnered 17 million viewers for its second season. The castles bookings for large group tours already are filled for 2013. Individual tickets sell out practically as quickly as they become available. The challenge for the current earl and his wife is harnessing Downtons popularity to support the massive house, which was built by the same architect who constructed Westminster Abbey Income from Lady Fionas book, a New York Times best-seller for nonfiction, has helped.

When Down-ton isnt filming (about six months a year), the castle staff also books weddings, corporate events and private dinners. It also has a new online gift shop for fans who cant visit Highclere. Just like the Downton segment where Lord Grantham tells Matthew (the next Lord Grantham) about his responsibilities, including dozens of toilets, the Eighth Earl of Carnarvon and his wife worry about maintaining miles of pipes and acres of roof. Keeping Highclere up is a responsibility as well as a privilege, she said. Lady Fiona knew something about Almina and the Fifth Earl before she became the current Countess of Carnarvon.

But she really delved IF YOU GO Where: Highclere Park, Newbury, England RG20 9RN When: 10 30 a -1 m. (morning tickets) or 1 p.m. (afternoon Sundays through Thursdays, July 14 to Sept. 12. How much: Cost (varies according to currency fluctuations) of about $30, adults, $26, seniors and students; $18 for children Family admission (for two adults I and two or three children) is $82.

Includes tour of the castle, its Egyptian Exhibi- tion, gardens and grounds. 1 Getting there: Visit the castle by car or take a train from London's Paddington Station to Newbury's Rail Station. Taxis from Newbury should be pre-booked Where to stay: The castle's website lists bed and breakfasts that are nearby, I as well as some country inns. Want to hang out where Downton stars stay7 I Check out The Carnarvon Arms(thecarnarvonarm- I shotel.com), a short distance from the castle Info: 01 1-44-1635-253204, highclerecastle.co.uk into the couple when she injured her knee and spent hours on the library sofa. I asked the staff to bring me things to read from the castles archives.

It was just after Downtons first series had aired and its popularity gave me the chance to get Lady Alminas story published, she said. Now shes writing a second book about the castles history, from 1923-1945. The author and her husband live in Highclere during filming. But when summer crowds arrive, they move to a smaller home "about 20 yards away We dont want to have to be up and out by 8 a.m. each morning, she explains.

No matter where theyre living, they watch every episode, so they can answer questions when the press rings up and wants to know our thoughts about a scene. A dedicated dog lover, she admits to wondering why one of her Labrador retrievers wasnt tapped to be Lord Granthams dog. (When the series began, she had two Labs and now has four, in addition to three cocker spaniels). She has never wanted a Downtown role for herself, however. many years of winter excavations for artifacts in Egypt and earned the Fifth Earl of Carnarvon his place in history as co-discoverer of Tutankhamens intact tomb in 1922.

Still considered Egypts most important archaeological find, the discovery took its toll on the earl, who died shortly afterward. On the night he died in Egypt, the lights went out all over Cairo. His beloved terrier, at Highclere, left out a single howl and also died the same night. These events and other rumors fueled talk of the Curse of the Pharaohs. Today three galleries in the castles cellars cover the Fifth Earls interests (which also included fast cars of the day and airplanes), his many years of excavations in Egypt and his amazing finds.

Lady Fiona explains why threads of Highcleres story can be found in Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes is a close friend of ours. He already knew the castles history when he began writing Downton, she said. At times, she notes, the answers she and her husband give to Fellowes casual questions sometimes find their way into the episodes scripts. Julian originally wanted to use Highclere for (the film) Gosford Park, but it was just a little too far out of London for that productions demands, she added. If youd like to visit the castle, know that it cant be a spur-of-the-moment side trip.

Youve got to watch REAL-ESTATE TRANSACTIONS Quad-Cities housing market report January 1 January 28, 201 2 a legendary lifestyle. Her dowry paid off her future husbands already-substantial debts. It also included a guaranteed annual income for Lady Almina of more than $10.5 million per year, in todays dollars. Lady Almina used her money to update the castle (it was among the first to have extensive indoor plumbing and electric lights) and to entertain guests, including the future King Edward VII. For the royal weekend visit, she spent more than $500,000 for food, staffing and redecorating.

Even the castles pool table was re-covered for his visit, according to Lady Fionas research. Lady Almina also used her money to turn Highclere into a World War I hospital for returning soldiers. She personally recruited the best nurses and doctors and paid for everything, including the latest medical equipment and medicines. She treated wounded men as guests and gave each a private bedroom in the castle (unlike the Downton Abbey scenes where convalescing soldiers slept on military cots lining a large room). When it outgrew Highclere, she paid to move it to a larger London facility I am amazed and humbled by the work Almina did, Lady Fiona said.

Although Highclere always has done its best to make people feel welcome, Almina also made people feel better. Lady Alminas money also funded her husbands QC Land Development, Bettendorf, to HMR Enterprises, Moline; "0" 36th Ave, Moline, landlot only, $167,000. Scott, Pamela power of attorney for Pobanz, Donna North Aurora, III, to Pankey, Ryan and Rowe, Ashley East Moline; 643 33rd Ave, East Moline, $90,000. Sandoval, Craig, East Moline, to Fleck, Ryan and Andrea, Moline, 1744 28th Ave, Moline, $102,900. Tredinnick, Kenneth, Plano, Texas, to Washington, Damarius Rock Island; 4508 41 st Ave Court, Rock Island; $159,000.

Essary, Robert L. Sr and Annette Viola, to Halverson, Jessica, Rock Island; 2600 38th St, Rock Island, $122,000 Wessels, Matthew and Sarah Prophetstown, to Themas, Travis and Anna, Cordova; 402 2nd Ave Cordova; $119,000. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Carrollton, Texas, to QC Props, Davenport; 1210 1 1th St, Moline; $47,825. QC Props, Davenport, to JBB Enterprises, Phoenix, Ariz 1 2 1 0 1 1 th St Moline, $50,325. Bartrom, Joyce executor, Moline, to Woller, Fred W.

Ill, Rock Island; 1932 1 1th Ave 8, Moline; $22,800. Bondi, Carole trustee, Turner, Harriet trust, Bettendorf, to Cole, Barbara Moline; 2957 1 1th Ave. Moline; $71,500. Sholey, Regan and Molly, St. Charles, III, to Colvin, Chantill Leann, Rock Island; 2601 34th Ave.

Court, Rock Island; $155,900. Brock, Bob S. and Gail West Point, Texas, to Gianulis, Andrew, Moline; 4042 River Drive, Moline; $187,500. Geary, Kimberly Scottsdale, to Gayer, John and Melinda, Silvis; -2006 13th St, Silvis; $184,000. Trenkenschuh, Merle, Milan, to Vhri-ani.

Jack Rock Island; 1405 23rd Ave, Rock Island; $133,860. The Conservancy, Davenport, to Kruse, Stephen and Melinda, Milan; vacant lot Milan, Blackhawk Township; $40,000. CitiMortgage, Q'Fallon, Mo, to Find Homes, Davenport 2347 48th St, Moline; $26,700. Retting er, Daniel, Davenport to Mendon, Mario, Moline; 4520 49th St Court Moline; $1 16,000. Schroeder, Donald W.

and Colette Rock Island, to Hawkins, Dustin Rock Island; 2424 28th St, Rock Island; $118,000. Dennison, Larry Wayne and Cathy Seaton, to Port Lucas Moline; 5128 21st Ave, Moline; $168,000. Numbers based, in whole or in part, on data supplied by the Quad City Area Realtors guarantees or is any way responsible for Its accuracy. Data may not reflect all Sources: Quad City Area Realtors Association, Mel Foster Relocation Services Following are seller, buyer, property description and price of property. Note: price is an estimate based on revenue stamps that are bought from the county.

Rock Island County warranty deeds Rock Island AMB, Bettendorf, to American Bank ft Trust Company, Davenport, 3730 18th Rock Island; $2,555,000. Freedom Security Bank, Coralville, Iowa, to American Bank Trust Company, Davenport; 3700 18th Rock Island, landlot only; $140,000. Schoville, Joseph and Diane Waterloo, Iowa, to Wenstrup, Paul Port Byron; 1623 Elm Shore Road, Port Byron; $374,000. Laka, Robert Columbia, to Minnis, Roy and Mary, Rock Island; 183046th St, Rock Island; $106,000. Todd, Vicki Rock Island, to Busch, Eric and Danen, Milan; 1600 106th Ave.

Milan; $3 10,000. Ernst, Vicki executor of Banning-field, Helen, Taylor Ridge, to Ben-ningfield, Larry Taylor Ridge; 11701 81st St. Taylor Ridge; $135,000. Winola Jets, East Moline, to Harkey, David Rock Island; 3229 14th Ave, Rock Island; $74,900. Evans, Jesse G.

and Caroline Davenport, to Ogden, Carolyn Moline; 101 1 Arbor Drive, Moline; $156,500. Galesburg Manufacturing Co, Galesburg, to Galesburg Manufacturing Galesburg, 306 42nd Ave, East Moline, commercial building; $431,476. Federal National Mortgage Association, Dallas, Texas, to BE2, Milan; 221 E. 3rd St, Milan; $29,750. Andrews, Michael E.

and Sue Hillsdale, to Dalton. Conan and Gretta Jo, Rock Island; 1 705 35th Ave, EM Silvis, garage only; $8,000. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Carrollton, Texas, to QC Props, Davenport; 261 1 13th Ave, Moline; $47,300. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Burr Ridge, IIL, to QC Props, Davenport 3220 16th Ave, Rock Island; $36,000. QC Props, Davenport, to JBB Enterprises, Phoenix.

Ariz, 261 1 13th Ave, Moline; $49,800. QC Props, raven port to JBB Enterprises, Phoenix, 3220 16th Ave, Rock Island; $38,500. Association and its multiple-listing service. activity In die market. Muelich, Lois to O'Rourke, Joseph trust; Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E; $5,500.

Klemp, Jason to O'Rourke, Joseph trust. Section 17N, Range 5E, $5,500. Block, Carol to O'Rourke, Ashley J. and Joseph R. Section 21, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $6,000.

Sandidge, Rhoda to O'Rourke, Ashley J. and Joseph Section 21, Township 17N, Range 5E, 56,000. Muelich, Lois to O'Rourke, Ashley J. and Joseph Jr Section 2 1 Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $6,000 Klemp, Jason to O'Rourke, Ashley J. and Joseph R.

Jr Section 2 1 Township 17N, Range 5E, 56,000. Klemp, Jason to Sandidge, Rhoda, Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $5,500. Block, Carol to Sandidgo, Rhoda, Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $5,500. Muoikh, Lois to Sandidgo, Rhoda; Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, 55,500. Block, Carol to Klemp, Jason, Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $3,000.

Muoikh, Lois to Klemp, Jason, Section 20, Township 17N, Range 5E, $3,000. Sandidgo, Rhoda to Klemp, Jason; Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $3,000. Jansoa In vestment Company to Kabala, Keeley and Wolf, Daniel and Erica; Section 14, Township 1 7N, Range 4E. $867,000. Oidfield-Carison, Somta and OkffiekL Patrick and Stacey to Lawrence, Carol J.

and Jackie Jr 503 and 507 2nd St, Atkinson, $45,000. Neither the association not its Ml IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union to Colona, city of 709 1 st St Colona, 560,000 Star Properties to Northland Investments; 2163 Oakwooa A.e Geneseo, 5840,000 Carlson, Allen D. and Donna to Nelson, Fredrick 409 3 s-Galva, $25,500 Weber, Jan and Steven to Jensen, Niels and Elizabeth Section 24, Township 18N, Range 3F $26,500 Newman, Bonnie and Joel A to Sieghartner, Robert, Section 4 '5 Township 15N, Range IE, 5443 500 Swiger, Steven and Vannieuwen-huyse, James and Kerry to Boruff, Kathryn and Laleman, Matthew Section 11, Township 16, Range 3, $195,000 Stees Construction to Stees, Gene and Janet Section 20, Tow" ship 17N, Range 3E, Dand Subawi sion No. 2 lot 7, $159 000 Ernst, Michael and Nikki to Ainsworth, Katherine 729 Oakwood, Geneseo, $87,000 Peck, Judy and Marvin to Peck, Gregory J. and Krista 6148 1700th Cambridge, 5300,000 Butterfield, Patricia A.

and Steven vV to Nelson, Brian D. and Rebecca Section 33, Township 1 5N, Range 2E, $325,000. O'Dell, Lisa Arillis Bowman and O'DeU, Craig Warren to Borkgren, Martha A. and Rick trusts, Section 1 7, Township 14N, Range 2E, $1,043,000. Blackhawk Bank and Trust Illinois to Bob Johnson Construction; 609 Rock Point Road, Colona, 520,000.

DuMont, Doug and Melissa, Hillsdale, to DeSilva, John, Silvis, 1 32 Hero St, Silvis; $12,000. Peterson, Carl Jr, estate, Moline, to Grubaugh, Jeffrey Moline; 1801 16th St, Moline, updown duplex; $51,000. Turner, Gregory to Anderson, Linda, Moline, 2540 32nd St Moline; $116,000. Fromi, James Moline, to Fromi, Joseph Moline, 1801 6th Ave, Moline; $200,000. Henry County warranty deeds Newman, Gene trust and Newman, Helen trust to Matthews, Dale; Original village Wethersfield part lot 157, Kewanee, 5240,000.

Blackhawk Bank A Trust to Dom-feid, Charles 10129 Wolf Road, Geneseo, $30,000. Vandaeln, John and Stephanie to Young, Jeffrey D. and Monica 124 Rustic Lake Drive, Colona, $257,000. Bolster, Rebecca and Smith, Sara and Scheidecker, Terry to Dornfeid Limited Partnership; Section 32, Township 16N, Range 4E; $1,805,000. Eariey, David E.

and Janice M. to Ear- Beth and Tmothy Section 24, Township 16N, Range 5E, $200,000. Bloome. Joe Joseph and Rosemary to Martinez, Evelm and Perez. Mano; 903 W.

3rd St, 221 Eustis St, Kewanee; 531,000. Roberson, Shirley A. to Erickson, Daniel 1720 E. 4th St, Kewanee, Howes, James and William to Vandersnick, Mark and Paula Section 32, Township 16N, Range 5E; $270,528. Torres, Rosa I.

and Salvador to Paredes, Jose 714 Prospect St, Kewanee; $29,500. Kluever, Beverly A. to Kerner, Tonya 205 S. Annawan, $42,000 Hosch, Richard L. and Susan to Kisner, Allison M.

and Tyler 405 McKinley Kewanee, $72,000 Morey, Nancy C. and Orville to Lewis, Kathryn A. and Michael part of 1 00 W. 1 1th St Kewanee, $2,500. Cessna, Dorothy M.

to lllowa Funding; 205 N. State Annawan, $25,000. JP Morgan Chase Bank to Whitch- er, Everett trust 604 Williams St Kewanee, $28,500. Hicks, Erin E. to Slaughter, Mary.

405 Washington St, Cleveland; $72,000 Alhorn, Leanne M. and Ronald R. to Bogart, Suzanne; 322 S. Main St Cambridge, $128,000. Powers, Laura C.

and Roger to Hicks, Erin E. and Riddles, Jeffrey, 209 Longview, Geneseo; $154,000. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp, to Stropes Properties; 1 1 06 7th St, Orion; $55,000. Kuhns, Barbara S. and Robert A.

to Faith, Nelson; Nelson's Subdivision, Lot 3, Geneseo; $52,000. Block, Carol to O'Rourke, Joseph trust Section 20, Township 1 7N, Range 5E, $5,500. Sandidge, Rhoda to O'Rourke, Joseph trust; Section 20, Township 17N, Range 5E, $5,500..