Beehive Guest House
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The Beehive Guest House is a two-story, stand-alone house located in the downtown area of historic Alton, Illinois.
- Casino
- Pets
- Telephone
Overview click to expand contents
Imagine gently rolling hills that kiss the edges of the great Mississippi River, and you'll be picturing what the early settlers may have seen as they pulled their boats ashore in the early 1800s. By 1837, Alton's founder had plotted out parcels of land and districts on those hills that would be purchased and used for the early citizens' homes, schools, churches, and shops.
One on of those hills, about halfway up its slope, was a small rectangular piece of property that Abraham Lincoln arranged to be sold, and, by 1839, the house that is now being called The Beehive was built. It originally had two rooms downstairs and three up. Only one room has been added since then:
A sunroom now occupies a place across the rear of the house, giving the occupants a soothing view of the river as it pushes its way to the South.
Walking into the front room, which stretches across the width of the house, one will notice the items displayed on the opposite wall, because they represent a myriad of eras, genres, and geographies. A clock and quilt can be seen that were handmade in the late 1800s and accompanied the owner's ancestors as they came by covered wagon from Michigan down to Tennessee, a trip that, back then, took eight weeks to complete.
A desk in the corner was made over a hundred years' ago for students in Belgium to use while in school. Next to it, however, is a photograph rendered only a few years' ago from Washington; and, on the west wall, a rubbing of a horse from St. Paul's in London. On the front wall, just below the window, rests a monk's bench which has a top that can be flipped down for writing or flipped up to sit.
The kitchen, accessed through a half-door, has a wide-planked wooden floor with countertops made from the same tree. White, with splashes of bright yellow and midnight blue, the kitchen area may remind one of a French country cottage. Unusual pieces of china, stoneware, and memorabilia are displayed in the large glass case seen as you enter the kitchen.
On its east end is a full laundry; its west end has a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, and tabletop burner. It is stocked with dishes, glassware, cooking utensils, flatware, pots and pans, cleaning supplies and storage containers if you should have leftovers.
Passing through the kitchen and continuing to the rear of the house will bring you to the sunroom, with three walls of windows. A colorful, wrap-around sofa sits in one corner and the other serves as the eating area with a round oak dining table from Holland.
Upstairs are two bedrooms and an adjoining bathroom. The front room, affectionately called the "Asian" room, is decorated in shades of blue. It presents a queen-sized bed, burled walnut wardrobe, and oak dresser. Along its south wall is an antique soju jar, a set of three Korean window frames that form a screen, a silk Thai robe, and a Korean hanbok (native costume).
The other bedroom, dubbed the "Earthtones" room, has a daybed with twin-sized mattress. There is a pop-up trundle bed tucked underneath that will provide a sleeping area for a second person; or, if desired, the two mattresses can be joined together to form a king-sized bed.
In one corner is an antique Chinese bookcase and, in the other, a new armoire. The bathroom, which is nearly as large as each of the bedrooms, has an authentic cast-iron claw-foot tub and a large storage cabinet in the corner.
Modern amenities available at The Beehive include wifi access and a DVD player. There is a monitor that doubles as a T.V. if hooked up to your computer for those of you who get television through the Internet. A telephone is available for use by our guests for all domestic out-going calls.
One on of those hills, about halfway up its slope, was a small rectangular piece of property that Abraham Lincoln arranged to be sold, and, by 1839, the house that is now being called The Beehive was built. It originally had two rooms downstairs and three up. Only one room has been added since then:
A sunroom now occupies a place across the rear of the house, giving the occupants a soothing view of the river as it pushes its way to the South.
Walking into the front room, which stretches across the width of the house, one will notice the items displayed on the opposite wall, because they represent a myriad of eras, genres, and geographies. A clock and quilt can be seen that were handmade in the late 1800s and accompanied the owner's ancestors as they came by covered wagon from Michigan down to Tennessee, a trip that, back then, took eight weeks to complete.
A desk in the corner was made over a hundred years' ago for students in Belgium to use while in school. Next to it, however, is a photograph rendered only a few years' ago from Washington; and, on the west wall, a rubbing of a horse from St. Paul's in London. On the front wall, just below the window, rests a monk's bench which has a top that can be flipped down for writing or flipped up to sit.
The kitchen, accessed through a half-door, has a wide-planked wooden floor with countertops made from the same tree. White, with splashes of bright yellow and midnight blue, the kitchen area may remind one of a French country cottage. Unusual pieces of china, stoneware, and memorabilia are displayed in the large glass case seen as you enter the kitchen.
On its east end is a full laundry; its west end has a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, and tabletop burner. It is stocked with dishes, glassware, cooking utensils, flatware, pots and pans, cleaning supplies and storage containers if you should have leftovers.
Passing through the kitchen and continuing to the rear of the house will bring you to the sunroom, with three walls of windows. A colorful, wrap-around sofa sits in one corner and the other serves as the eating area with a round oak dining table from Holland.
Upstairs are two bedrooms and an adjoining bathroom. The front room, affectionately called the "Asian" room, is decorated in shades of blue. It presents a queen-sized bed, burled walnut wardrobe, and oak dresser. Along its south wall is an antique soju jar, a set of three Korean window frames that form a screen, a silk Thai robe, and a Korean hanbok (native costume).
The other bedroom, dubbed the "Earthtones" room, has a daybed with twin-sized mattress. There is a pop-up trundle bed tucked underneath that will provide a sleeping area for a second person; or, if desired, the two mattresses can be joined together to form a king-sized bed.
In one corner is an antique Chinese bookcase and, in the other, a new armoire. The bathroom, which is nearly as large as each of the bedrooms, has an authentic cast-iron claw-foot tub and a large storage cabinet in the corner.
Modern amenities available at The Beehive include wifi access and a DVD player. There is a monitor that doubles as a T.V. if hooked up to your computer for those of you who get television through the Internet. A telephone is available for use by our guests for all domestic out-going calls.
Details click to expand contents
- Name: Beehive Guest House
- Status: Property is Inactive
- Type: Cottage
- Address: 417 E Third Street
- City: Alton
- State: Illinois
- Postal Code: 62002
- Country: United States
- Sq. Ft: 1,250
- Bedrooms: 2
- Beds: QDT
- Baths: 1
- Normal Occupancy: 4
- Max Occupancy: 4
- Sleeps: 4
- Rate Range Daily: $120 - $140
- Rate Range Weekly: $550 - $600
- Tax Rate: 725.0%
- Reservation Fee: $120 - $140
- Cleaning Charges: $25
- Phone: 6185515020
- Email: atcom7716@yahoo.com
- Rental #: 2561
BED CODES: K=King, Q=Queen, F=Full, T=Twin, C=Futon Couch, M=Mattress, A=Air Mattress, L=Sleeper, S=Sofa, U=Trundle Bed, D=Day Bed
Features click to expand contents
Within walking distance of at least eight different restaurants, ranging from fine dining to casual eateries, this house is only two blocks north of the river's edge. The thriving Jacoby Arts Center is only a three-block walk to the east, and, for the person who enjoys antiquing, there are four antique shops within a four block area. Sprinkled in amongst the antique shops and restaurants are stores that ply handmade goods and crafts made by local artisans.
A visit to Alton anywhere between April and the end of November will give you choices of many different festivals and celebrations, beginning with the Challenge of the Bluffs Run and an Earth Day Celebration, and ending with the lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Alton, events abound. During the colder winter months, the area is known for its eagle watching, as the large birds of prey shift southward towards warmer waters. A quick check on www.altonmainstreet.org will give the visitor a good idea of what is going on, and a visit to www.visitalton.org will bolster that knowledge.
The house features wifi and a dvd player; a back yard brick patio with deck and privacy fencing; and the peace and quiet of living on an historic tree-lined street.
The Argosy Casino is another feature to be found within walking distance and, for those who may listen to the occasional Cardinals baseball game, Fast Eddie's is about one mile east of the house.
Alton was the site of the 7th and final Lincoln-Douglas debate, lays claim to counting Elijah Lovejoy as one of its own (who many believe to have been the first casualty of the Civil Way), and has a statue of probably its most famous son, Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world, according to Guiness Book of World Records. Progress is being made daily towards installing a statue of Miles Davis in downtown Alton, as he was born in Alton, living here in the early years of his life.
A visit to Alton anywhere between April and the end of November will give you choices of many different festivals and celebrations, beginning with the Challenge of the Bluffs Run and an Earth Day Celebration, and ending with the lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Alton, events abound. During the colder winter months, the area is known for its eagle watching, as the large birds of prey shift southward towards warmer waters. A quick check on www.altonmainstreet.org will give the visitor a good idea of what is going on, and a visit to www.visitalton.org will bolster that knowledge.
The house features wifi and a dvd player; a back yard brick patio with deck and privacy fencing; and the peace and quiet of living on an historic tree-lined street.
The Argosy Casino is another feature to be found within walking distance and, for those who may listen to the occasional Cardinals baseball game, Fast Eddie's is about one mile east of the house.
Alton was the site of the 7th and final Lincoln-Douglas debate, lays claim to counting Elijah Lovejoy as one of its own (who many believe to have been the first casualty of the Civil Way), and has a statue of probably its most famous son, Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world, according to Guiness Book of World Records. Progress is being made daily towards installing a statue of Miles Davis in downtown Alton, as he was born in Alton, living here in the early years of his life.
Contact Manager click to expand contents
Contact Person: Ann Bromaghim
Phone: 618-551-5020
Email Manager click to expand contents
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