The Butler’s pantry is filled with additional china and glassware that Colonel McCormick needed for food service.  The butler made final preparations here for the meals, which he served in the dining room.  The presentation, or look of the food on the plates, became a form of art for the butler.  Notice the space underneath the metal shelf in the dumb waiter.  This space held a heating device that kept the food warm as it was brought up from the kitchen below. Near the door to the dumb waiter, there is a switch plate.  On this plate, the “S” stands for send, and the “C” stands for call.

The original electric clock is still in perfect working order.

The other interesting electric appliance in this pantry is the annunciator on the east wall.  Anunciators serve as a means of communication throughout the mansion, just like intercoms do in some of today’s homes.  Each of the small squares on the anunciator corresponds to a room in the mansion.   When McCormick or one of his guests needed service, they pressed the button in their room that made the anunciator ring.  The servant checked the annunciator to see which room the call came from and then answered the call.

The butler’s pantry still contains all of its original cabinetry, sinks and countertops.