Recently, two wonderful summertime events were held in Bloomington-Normal: the Old House Society Home Tour and the David Davis Mansion Glorious Garden Walk. Over 550 people enjoyed the home tour and over 1,100 people enjoyed the 12 gardens of the Garden Walk.

On behalf of the David Davis Foundation Board and Davis-Jefferson Neighborhood Association, I would like to thank folks for their enthusiastic support.

With the ongoing state budget crisis, local support of the David Davis Mansion is more important than ever. David Davis was one of Abraham Lincoln's most trusted advisers and played a key role in his election in 1860 and following that he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Further, the mansion has almost 50,00 visitors a year and has an important economic impact on the city of Bloomington as well as an historic one.

Planning is already under way for the next home tour and Garden Walk. Thank you again for your participation and continued support of the David Davis Mansion.

Paul Essington, Bloomington

The writer is a board member of the Davis-Jefferson Neighborhood Association and the David Davis Foundation.