Downton Abbey tea will raise funds for museum

A little bit of Downton Abbey, the location of the Public Broadcasting System hit show about a ritzy mansion in early 20th century England, will be in Havre Saturday, April 30.

Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea, a fundraiser for the Havre History Center, will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites.

The event will be a re-creation of a tea that might be held at the Abbey, said Judi Dritshulas, chair of the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Board of Directors and fan of the PBS show.

The show tells the story of the abbey in pre-World War I British society through the 1930s, as British society was clanging and class lines began to blur.

Tables at the fundraiser will be set with the finest of linen and china, she said. Each table will have a hostess who will provide the table settings, Dritshulas said.

There will be four courses of hors d'ouevres as well as fine teas, she said.

The fundraiser has been organized by Karen Vosen and Judy Ward, Dritshulas added.

"They have organized this to a T," she said, enjoying the pun.

A minimum donation of $25 will be asked for tickets, which must be purchased by Monday, April 25, so organizers can make plans, she said. Tickets can be purchased at Julie's Hallmark at Atrium Mall or at Brandon's Drapery & Floorcovering, 420 3rd St.

The volunteers and some people attending the event plan on dressing in period costume, she said, but people should feel free to dress in any attire.

A raffle will be held for a quilt that was made by Karen Vosen, the quilter who has designed quilts for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line for many years.

The quilt is named "Lord and Lady Granthan for two of the main characters in "Downton Abbey."

Dritshulas said it is a beautiful quilt, and "we thank her very much for her work."

The quilt is on display at the North 40 entrance of Holiday Village Mall, she said.

Raffle tickets are $5 or five for $20, she said. They can be purchased at the Clack Museum in Holiday Village Mall or at the event, she said.

Guests will be entertained by Dowager Violet & Company, a group of Montana Actors' Theatre actors who will perform skits based on "Downton Abbey" actors.

The Nerds of Notes, a Havre barbershop group, will perform.

The money raised will help with renovations needed at the Havre History Center.

The center, which presently houses Griggs Printing Co., will eventually house the Clack Museum.

The museum is planning to gradually move to the building.