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A couple that’s leasing Hannibal’s Rockcliffe Mansion plans a public rally Wednesday.
Ken and Lisa Marks hope for a public show of support to keep the historic house at 1000 Bird Street open for tours.
The Markses face a Wednesday deadline to put together financing to buy the mansion, and have said they fear a new owner would make it a private residence. The deadline could be moved.
The Markses face competition from Florida developer James Gillette and his wife, Robin, who have bid $710,000.
A trustee appointed by a judge to handle the estate after owner Rick Rose filed for bankruptcy has said he will recommend the Gillette bid be approved at a Nov. 2 hearing in Shreveport, La., where the case was filed.
Wednesday’s party will take place on Rockcliffe’s front lawn starting at 5 p.m. The first floor also will be available for people to walk through.
“We want to make it clear to any potential buyer how important Rockcliffe is to Hannibal and the support we have in keeping it open to the public as a museum,” Lisa Marks said Monday.
The couple continues to give tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with a special haunted experience through Oct. 31 and an extensive Christmas display that will start Nov. 10.
The Markses have leased the mansion since September and put in the first bid of $700,000 to buy it. A Colorado couple that offered $705,000 bowed out after a recent visit to the house.
The Markses have said they plan extensive renovations that would maintain Rockcliffe’s historic features.
Gillette has not been specific about his plans, but told a Hannibal Realtor that he also has renovations in mind.
A couple that’s leasing Hannibal’s Rockcliffe Mansion plans a public rally Wednesday.
Ken and Lisa Marks hope for a public show of support to keep the historic house at 1000 Bird Street open for tours.
The Markses face a Wednesday deadline to put together financing to buy the mansion, and have said they fear a new owner would make it a private residence. The deadline could be moved.
The Markses face competition from Florida developer James Gillette and his wife, Robin, who have bid $710,000.
A trustee appointed by a judge to handle the estate after owner Rick Rose filed for bankruptcy has said he will recommend the Gillette bid be approved at a Nov. 2 hearing in Shreveport, La., where the case was filed.
Wednesday’s party will take place on Rockcliffe’s front lawn starting at 5 p.m. The first floor also will be available for people to walk through.
“We want to make it clear to any potential buyer how important Rockcliffe is to Hannibal and the support we have in keeping it open to the public as a museum,” Lisa Marks said Monday.
The couple continues to give tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with a special haunted experience through Oct. 31 and an extensive Christmas display that will start Nov. 10.
The Markses have leased the mansion since September and put in the first bid of $700,000 to buy it. A Colorado couple that offered $705,000 bowed out after a recent visit to the house.
The Markses have said they plan extensive renovations that would maintain Rockcliffe’s historic features.
Gillette has not been specific about his plans, but told a Hannibal Realtor that he also has renovations in mind.
