parlor | dining room | front bedroom | back bedroom | private bath Downstairs our guests welcome to enjoy a cozy book filled parlor; a spacious light filled dining room that overlooks the Missouri River. Upstairs are two charming bedrooms:The front bedroom has a wonderful king size bed with its own private sitting area.The back bedroom has a double bed AND a view overlooking the Missouri River.A huge double bathroom with two sinks, an old fashioned claw foot tub for a long soak, and a huge step in tile shower. Other amenities: hot gourmet breakfast, wi-fi, off-street parking, private patio overlooking the Missouri River, satellite television, and a refrigerator packed with snacks.

History of the Guest Haus
    My ancestor J.W. Bock had emigrated from Germany in 1832, and laid out the town of Dutzow (named for his former estate) across the Missouri River from Washington.  By the 1840s, Henry Krog a young blacksmith followed.  In the late 1850s, both families had moved to the booming town of Washington.  Henry’s youngest daughter Minna was born here in 1861.
    As an adult, Minna traveled, performing on stage, a great concert pianist. By 1895, both of her parents had passed away, and her older sister, also single, would reside in the family home (the parking lot across from the Post Office).  Another sister-in-law, Jennie lived in my family’s former home, where the parking lot to the side of my back yard is now. Another sister, married Dr. Muench and lived across Jefferson in his beautiful home, where the parking lot next to the Photojournalism Hall is today.
    In 1896, Minna built this house to live in, and while teaching German during the day at the Fifth Street Grammer School, she gave piano lessons in the back parlor after school and evenings. Minna died in 1917, and the home went through several owners, and fell into disrepair during the late1990s.  By the time the house was 100 years old, it was in bad disrepair, and near collapse, hidden behind a weed filled yard.
    Andy Unerstall, owner of Unerstall Construction, purchased the house in 2000, and lovingly restored it in hopes that his oldest daughter would chose to call it home. It was Andy who did all of the physical restoration, painting, refinishing that brought the house back to life, winning a local preservation award in 2001. 
    In 2004, I purchased, decorated and opened The Guest Haus at Washington, offering the home as a peaceful retreat for today’s travelers, that visit from around the world to Washington, Missouri.

Dorris Keeven-Franke,
Owner and innkeeper of The Guest Haus at Washington

Copyright 2004 TheGuestHaus