"Groundhog Day" House May become Real B&B

From the Oct. 21, 2008 Chicago Tribune "Deja vu revisits movie's home" by Carolyn Starks.

The classic and striking Victorian house in Woodstock, Illinois, that was used for outside shots and the window on the snowy street scenes in the great 1993 "Groundhog Day" movie starring Bill Murray, may soon be an honest-to-goodness Bed & Breakfast if Everton and Karla Stewart Martin have their way.

They bought the 114-year-old house after searching for two years to find a place to establish their dream B&B. At first, they weren't even aware of the house's past. They were looking for a place with a wrap-around porch, ornate historic details, a highly visible location, and a friendly small town. That house matches all of these, then, there is its movie history, a real bonus.

In the movie, it became the Cherry Street Inn, where Bill Murray stayed and woke up every morning, every morning, every morning. Interior shots, however, were filmed on a sound stage in nearby Crystal Lake. The real interior was nowhere near as big as the one portrayed in the movie. Woodstock was chosen to play Punxsutawney, Pa, after it was determined that its square would better represent Phil's being stuck than a linear street.

The City Council was to vote to give a permit to convert the home into a five bedroom inn.

The house was built in 1894 and has ten-foot ceilings, a solid wood staircase, ornate mouldings and stained glass. In 1962, it was bought by Fred and Kady Rachford, who raised nine children there were the most recent owners.

Woodstock has had a Groundhog Day celebration ever since the movie was made and I have attended the last several. There are free showings of the movie at the theater featured in the movie, a walking tour, wood carving, and a symposium. Plus, the Tip Top Cafe is open for business again. I plan on being there again this year before I head down South for some warmth.

I know some place I want to stay.

I Always Toast to World Peace. --RoadDog