History of The Chicago Street Inn

History

Brooklyn, Michigan is a pretty little village situated on the outskirts of the
beautiful Irish Hills. The town has grown into a thriving tourist center offering
unique stores in the downtown area and antique shops both in and outside of town.

Carl grew up in the city of Ypsilanti and later moved to Hudson, Michigan, where he and Mary Frances met while attending church. He moved to Brooklyn after they were married in Gretna Green, Scotland, on Sept. 29, 1999. Carl and Mary Frances purchased Chicago Street Inn from Bill and Karen Kerr in July of 2001.

Mary Frances (Schepeler) grew up in Brooklyn, where her roots run deep. Her grandparents, Dr. Cortlandt and Marthena Schepeler, were the second owners of the home that is now Chicago Street Inn and her father, William (Bill), Aunt Frances and Uncle Cort grew up there. Her mother, Vernice (Peterson), was also a Brooklyn native and she and Bill were high school sweethearts. They were married almost 50 years when he died in 1998. Many humorous stories involving the house have been handed down from generation to generation.

Chicago Street Inn

The front foyer walls and ceiling were hand-painted by Marthena in the 1930s, and they remained virtually untouched for the next 60 years. When it was time for the artwork to be restored, the home’s owner at the time, Jackie Smith, called on Brooklyn artist Sandy (Brown) Burnett, who touched up the country scene with acrylic paints.

Carl and Mary are the seventh owners of the beautiful Queen Anne style home, which was built in 1886 by George Cook as a gift to his son, Addison Porter Cook. When Addison and his wife were married, they traveled to England on their honeymoon and brought back with them three stained glass windows and fireplace tile. The windows and tile were installed in the house where they have remained to this day, still in perfect condition.

Carl and Mary Frances Moore invite you to be their guest at Chicago Street Inn Bed & Breakfast. Each room is beautifully decorated and exceptionally clean. Four of our guest rooms are located in the main house, and two are in a separate building, fondly referred to as The Bungalow, decorated in the 1920's style.

Available are three Jacuzzi suites with gas fireplaces, one Jacuzzi suite (no fireplace) and two standard queen rooms.

Each room has a private bath, television, small refrigerator stocked with juices and waters, TV, and coffee maker.

Send us an email or call us at (517) 592-3888
for a gift certificate for someone special!