The 2-story historic home was consigned to be built in 1904 by the town tailor Henry Herman Mickenbecker for his future bride, Amelia Heitze. Henry was born and grew up just a block away - at the corner of Eagle Street and Douglas Avenue. It was rumored that Henry saw Amelia in church and fell in love with her at first sight! [We have photos of Henry and Amelia in the dining room of the B&B and seeing Amelia's face, one can understand why Henry fell in love.] They married on June 7, 1905, and moved straight away into the house at the corner of Eagle Street and Franklin Avenue. The Mickenbecker's gave birth to and raised 8 children during their life together in this house on Eagle Street.
A neighbor, who is now in his 90's, fondly remembers "good times" in the yellow Victorian house with those "massive, beautiful sets of pocket doors". He recounts how much the Mickenbecker's had loved to entertain and were noted to have given some great and memorable parties from around 1905 to the mid-1940's. He remembers "how they played such lively music and then they'd roll back the rugs so everyone could freely dance away the night on the wood floors". During the parties, "some of the men would set-up tables and play cards into the early morning hours". There was always delicious food, beverages, and flowing laughter to be had during the Mickenbecker's parties.
After the Mickenbecker’s grown children had sold the family home, the house had a couple of different owners before it was purchased in November 1986, by Neal and Lynn Harrison. The Harrison's lovingly restored the house to its late-Victorian grandeur and began welcoming guests in 1987, as the Harrison House Bed & Breakfast.
Speaking of location…the B&B is perfectly situated on 2 half lots in Joseph Naper’s originally created, surveyed, and mapped town at the corner of 2 of the 11 streets and avenues named by him in 1842 - Eagle Street and Franklin Avenue. It’s a short 2 block walk to the first shops and restaurants which is considered a premier Chicagoland destination.