The Conner House Bed and Breakfast

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The Conner House Bed and Breakfast A gorgeous, newly renovated & restored Victorian mansion in the heart of historic Prairie du Rocher

One of the things I love most about The Conner House is the conversation around our breakfast table. During Jim and Dian...
30/10/2026

One of the things I love most about The Conner House is the conversation around our breakfast table. During Jim and Diane’s visit, our morning conversation turned to the Lord, salvation, and the different faith beliefs we each brought to the table.

What followed was a wonderful exchange of thoughts, questions, and understanding. We didn’t have to share the same religious teachings to appreciate one another and learn from each other. We left breakfast with renewed spirits and a greater understanding of one another’s faith.

Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones we never planned. Sharing a meal and taking the time to listen can bring people together in such unexpected ways. Thank you, Jim and Diane, for a morning I’ll remember.

You truly never know where the breakfast conversation will lead at The Conner House!

Where new and old friends meet!

We’re beginning to think there’s something about The Conner House that attracts authors! Donald Murphy and his wife came...
28/10/2026

We’re beginning to think there’s something about The Conner House that attracts authors! Donald Murphy and his wife came down from Granite City for a little getaway and spent an evening with us.

During their visit, Donald shared a copy of his book, Grams and Butch, a heartwarming story recalling his memories of visiting his grandmother. It’s a delightful read for all ages, full of reminders of simpler times, special family bonds, and the childhood memories that stay with us.

Thank you, Donald, for sharing your story and leaving us such a thoughtful gift. It was a pleasure having you both! We love the stories our guests bring through our doors, and sometimes they even come in hardcover or paperback.

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet!

You never know who will walk through the doors of The Conner House, or what adventures they’ll have getting here! We had...
26/10/2026

You never know who will walk through the doors of The Conner House, or what adventures they’ll have getting here! We had the pleasure of welcoming Anne-Laure and Axelle, two journalists and photographers visiting from Normandy, France.

After a challenging day of traveling, I caught up with them at Lisa’s Market Street Grill, where their travel troubles soon gave way to laughter, good company, and a whole lot of fun. Lisa added to the evening by presenting the ladies, along with Aaron Smith, Director of Tourism for the City of Ste. Genevieve, with her famous Rendezvous shirts!

Anne-Laure and Axelle are traveling the Mississippi River region for a popular French magazine, capturing the lifestyles, stories, and lasting French influence that make our communities so special. It was wonderful to share that connection between our little French Colonial village and the country where so much of our history began.

We’re hoping to receive a copy of their published article. I can’t wait to see our region through their eyes! Merci beaucoup, ladies. It was such a pleasure meeting you both!

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet!

25/10/2026

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, ILLINOIS — THE FRENCH VILLAGE BENEATH THE BLUFFS

Images are for illustration only and are not actual photos

Before Illinois became a state—and before the United States existed—French settlers were building a community beneath the Mississippi River bluffs.

Founded in 1722, Prairie du Rocher grew in what is now Randolph County. Its name reflects its setting: a prairie beneath the rock. The towering limestone bluffs became the backdrop to a village whose story now stretches across more than three centuries.

Nearby Fort de Chartres offered protection, while farming helped sustain the settlement. This history also includes enslaved African and Indigenous people whose labor supported the colonial community. Their lives belong to Prairie du Rocher’s story alongside those of its French settlers.

Generations lived through changing governments as the region passed from French to British rule and eventually became part of the United States. Illinois would not achieve statehood until 1818—nearly a century after the village began.

One of its most distinctive traditions is La Guiannée. Associated with New Year’s Eve, the custom brings together costumes, music and a French song passed through generations. Historically, participants traveled between homes, singing and inviting neighbors to celebrate the passing year.

The village also preserves the Creole House, built around 1800, while French surnames in St. Joseph’s Cemetery connect today’s community with families from its past. Descendants of many of those families still live in the village.

Here, history lives in more than old buildings. It lives in family names, shared traditions and a song that keeps finding another generation to sing it.

Have you ever visited Prairie du Rocher or experienced La Guiannée?

Images are for illustration only and are not actual photos

If reading isn’t your thing, perhaps a few scary movies are more your style! William, one of our faithful October guests...
25/10/2026

If reading isn’t your thing, perhaps a few scary movies are more your style! William, one of our faithful October guests, returned for his annual visit with a collection of horror movies and a portable DVD player. Now that’s coming prepared!

A night of horror movies in a 120-year-old Victorian home, complete with creaky floors and mysterious nighttime sounds? Some folks pay good money for a haunted house experience. William just books a room at The Conner House!

We’re always delighted to welcome him back for this October tradition. And as far as we know, all our guests have made it through the night!

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet… and perhaps a few spirits linger!

Feeling brave enough to spend a night in our 120-year-old Victorian home? Halloween is just around the corner! 🎃 Visit connerhousebnb.com to plan your own hauntingly good getaway!

October 3 was a busy day in our little corner of Southern Illinois! While the Quilt Show was bringing visitors to town, ...
22/10/2026

October 3 was a busy day in our little corner of Southern Illinois! While the Quilt Show was bringing visitors to town, the American Discovery Trail 250 Relay was making its way through our historic French Colonial Corridor. It was a pleasure to be involved alongside the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, the Randolph County Historical Society, and so many wonderful community supporters.

The relay visited Fort de Chartres, the Creole House, Boondocks Tavern, and the Pierre Menard Home before finishing at First Responders Park in Chester. There were handoffs, plenty of cheering, and lots of smiles along the way.

We even caught our illustrious local reporter carrying the Baton of Liberty! Now that’s getting involved in the story instead of just reporting it!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day happen. The teamwork and new friendships were a wonderful reminder of what our small communities can accomplish when everyone pitches in. We weren’t just remembering history that day; we were making a little of our own!

We had the pleasure of welcoming Bruce Leonard and his wife, Sedonia, to The Conner House for a weekend of quilts and a ...
22/10/2026

We had the pleasure of welcoming Bruce Leonard and his wife, Sedonia, to The Conner House for a weekend of quilts and a wedding anniversary celebration! They spent their visit enjoying the Quilt Guild 250 Quilt Show, and we were so glad they chose to stay with us for their special weekend.

Congratulations to Jane Peiffer, who spearheaded the show. With more than 300 handmade quilt projects on display and over 300 visitors, there was plenty to celebrate. What a wonderful event for our community!

Bruce is an award-winning mystery author whose Quilt City series is set in Paducah, Kentucky, known as Quilt City USA. He’s written a cookbook, too! His books were very well received, and he and Sedonia thoughtfully gifted The Conner House a copy of his first mystery novel and his cookbook. We’ll treasure those reminders of their visit.

Thank you, Bruce and Sedonia, for spending your anniversary weekend with us. Happy Anniversary, and here’s to many more chapters together!

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet!

Three longtime friends, now living in Colorado, Michigan, and Florida, reunited for a biking adventure along the Mississ...
18/10/2026

Three longtime friends, now living in Colorado, Michigan, and Florida, reunited for a biking adventure along the Mississippi River and made The Conner House one of their stops. Now that’s an awesome kind of boys’ trip!

They saved their breakfast dessert for later, and after biking to Fort de Chartres, they found the perfect place to enjoy it: aboard the ferry crossing the Mississippi. They even sent me a picture to prove it!

Miles may separate old friends, but it sure looks like these three picked right back up where they left off. We loved having them here and hearing about their adventure. Thanks, gentlemen, for making The Conner House part of the trip. Keep pedaling, keep laughing, and come see us again!

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet!

Look out, Nashville… here come the sisters! 🎶👯‍♀️One of the joys of owning The Conner House is meeting people who are ou...
16/10/2026

Look out, Nashville… here come the sisters! 🎶👯‍♀️

One of the joys of owning The Conner House is meeting people who are out making wonderful memories. These two delightful sisters met up in St. Louis and spent the night with us before heading off for a few fun-filled days in Nashville, Tennessee. They make it a point to plan a sisters' getaway every year, and I just love that tradition!

After visiting with these two, I was half tempted to pack my bags and go along! 😂 Something tells me they absolutely lit up Nashville! Thank you, ladies, for sharing a little of your adventure with us. Here's to sisterhood, laughter, and making time for the people who matter most!

The Conner House — Where new and old friends meet! ❤️

Happy Anniversary to you Neil and Lynn! May you be blessed with happiness, peace and a whole bunch more fun!!!
04/10/2026

Happy Anniversary to you Neil and Lynn! May you be blessed with happiness, peace and a whole bunch more fun!!!

Address

315 Main
IL

Telephone

+16182848752

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