The Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast is located in Taylorville, Illinois. It has a total of ten rooms available for guest reservation, with eight located in the main house and two found in the inn’s second building, the Carriage House. Some of the most popular rooms include the Chimney Room and the Clock Tower Room because they feature king-size beds. Breakfast is served every morning in the main house, with the dishes prepared depending on the number of people staying at the inn. Joe, one of the bed and breakfast’s owners, says that one of the most unique features of the Victorian home is the woodwork on display throughout it. Should guests desire a venue, the property can host many types of small group events. The property is within walking distance of a variety of shops and restaurants that patrons can visit, such as Kluge’s, Florinda’s, and Bill’s Toasty Shop.
Situated in the suburbs of Taylorville, Illinois, is the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast. The property contains two buildings, both of which are Victorian in style. The main building is three stories tall and has a large brick chimney on the outside. Most of the outside of the house is white with light blue accents. There are gardens that guests can observe around the one-acre property and a wrap-around porch with a gazebo roof on the corner, and chairs and tables where patrons can sit. The Victorian styling from the outside of the structure is reflected on the inside as well. Joe, one of the owners of the inn, says that a unique aspect of the home is the woodwork. He mentions that some of the doors on the first floor, for example, were produced with half oak wood on one side and with half fir wood on the other to complement the woodwork in the rooms that each respective side of the door is on.
There are a total of ten rooms split between the main house, which has eight, and the secondary Carriage House, which has two. Each room available for guest reservation has its own unique theme and name; however, they all share many of the same amenities, such as a private bathroom, flat-screen TVs, and wireless internet connection. Some rooms have fireplaces, either gas or electric, that can be used at visitors' leisure. According to Joe, the most popular rooms are often the Chimney Room and the Hunt Club Room in the Carriage House due to their king-size beds. For those requiring an ADA accessible room, the Carriage House’s Helen’s Suite is on the ground level of the second building. Both suites in the Carriage House offer kitchenettes, off-street parking, private patios, and electronic locks on the door, which can be programmed for each guest by Joe.
Breakfast is served in the inn's dining room each day, usually around 8:30 or 9:00 AM. Those staying in the Carriage House are welcome to join those in the main building for breakfast, or they can have a self-serve breakfast in their rooms. This self-serve option includes a number of items such as microwave breakfast sandwiches, juices, and breakfast bars. For guests desiring the meal prepared at the inn, Joe says that the dishes often depend on how many people are staying on the premises at a given time. If there are more people, a larger dish can be prepared like egg casserole or oven puffed french toast. More personal items can be made for smaller groups, such as eggs made to order with ham, sausage, or bacon. If given enough notice beforehand, those desiring special dietary accommodations can potentially have them made.
Joe, one of the owners, has goals for the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast, one of which is to create an atmosphere where guests feel they are “waking up someplace special.” He and his wife, Myrna, attempt to emulate this atmosphere primarily by providing for the needs of those who stay with them, in addition to interacting with visitors as much as the guests prefer. This interaction is something that many former travelers have appreciated about their stays. One person said that “Myrna and Joe are delightful hosts with a tremendous knowledge of the area and history of Taylorville as well as the story behind the inn.” Other patrons appreciated the building itself, saying, “the house is beautiful and has been authentically preserved.” They go on to say that the rooms are “furnished with antiques” and that there are “modern bathrooms in every room.” According to Joe, guests staying at the inn typically come from all over the country, especially from Arizona, California, and Texas. He estimates that about 95 percent of the business the receive are repeat customers. Some of these people have been staying regularly at the Market Street Inn for over twelve years.
The bed and breakfast can be used to host a variety of small events such as weddings, family reunions, and business retreats. According to Joe and Myrna, many of the events that they host are receptions for people. These events often occur during the busier months of the year for the property, namely from May to September, when the weather is warmer. While there are rooms that are open year-round, the inn itself closes from January to March each year while Joe and Myrna are away. The Carriage House still operates and is available for reservations throughout the year as an assistant handles the second house.
Those looking to explore the city of Taylorville may find a number of small shops, restaurants, and historical sites. The Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast is located within walking distance of several restaurants that Joe recommends people try. These include Kluge’s, which is a serving bar offering finger foods, an Italian restaurant called Florinda’s, and Nesty’s. He also mentions Bill’s Toasty Shop, an establishment that serves typical American food such as burgers and shakes, and is known for being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since 1940. Other historical locations in Taylorville that guests can visit include the Christian County Courthouse, where people can learn more about the town clock from its “Clock Master” every Saturday at 7:30 AM, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast was a private residence before it was converted into a bed and breakfast by Joe and Myrna Hauser, its current owners. They acquired the property in 1993 and started accepting patrons in 1994 after renovating and updating the building. In 1998, the attic of the house was renovated to add three guest rooms to the existing five, as well as an additional sitting area. The Hausers bought the Carriage House in 2003 and made updates to that building as well to bring it in line with the style of the other rooms offered in the main house. The idea to start a bed and breakfast was originally Myrna’s idea, according to Joe. He and his wife had recently moved back to their hometown of Taylorville, and Myrna thought that the business would give them something to do in their retirement.
Initially built in 1892, the main house of the inn was owned by David Hoover, the owner of a significant stagecoach line that ran from Springfield, Illinois, and through Taylorville. The Carriage House was built for another home in the area in 1899 but was eventually bought by an owner of the main house in 1946. It was renovated to become two apartments that the owners could rent out. A handful of different owners would own both the main home and the Carriage House before the Hausers finally bought them and turned them into a bed and breakfast.
220 East Market Street
Taylorville, Illinois 62568
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Joe and Myrna Hauser
