His Majesty's Bed & Breakfast: The Innkeeper Years

Norm & Laura Shimko

On August 1, 2012, we became the owners of His Majesty's Bed & Breakfast.

At the time, we knew we were buying an old house with history.

We just didn't realize how much history we were stepping into.

Over the years, we've learned that owning a historic home is a little different than simply living in one. You become more of a caretaker than an owner. Every project uncovers another story. Every old photo raises another question.

Sometimes guests share memories we've never heard before.

Sometimes longtime Madison residents stop by and tell us stories that suddenly connect pieces we've been trying to figure out for years.

And sometimes the house surprises us completely.

The History Behind His Majesty's Bed & Breakfast

Researching the history of the home has become one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. Not because every mystery gets solved, but because every answer leads to another story.

Guests Who Shared Their Own History

We've also had many guests stay with us who grew up in Madison and later moved away. Some come back to visit family. Others return for class reunions, weddings, funerals, or simply to spend a weekend revisiting the town they remember growing up in.

Those conversations have become one of our favorite parts of running the B&B.

Guests often share memories of stores that no longer exist, stories about the square, old neighborhood traditions, or what Madison was like decades ago. In many ways, the house has quietly become part of people reconnecting with their own history too.

Fourteen Years at His Majesty's Bed & Breakfast

Today, guests come here for winery weekends, breakfasts, anniversaries, and quiet getaways.

But underneath all of that is still the same 1861 house that has watched Madison grow and change for more than a century and a half.

Over the last fourteen years, we've had the privilege of becoming a small part of that story. We've welcomed thousands of guests through the front door, celebrated anniversaries and birthdays, shared countless breakfasts, and watched strangers become friends.

Some guests visited once. Others returned year after year. Many became part of our extended family.

We've laughed with guests around the breakfast table, helped them plan winery adventures, recommended favorite local restaurants, and listened to stories from every stage of life. Those connections have always been the best part of what we do.

Our Final Chapter

As we researched the history of the house, we came to appreciate something important. Every owner leaves a chapter behind for the next one to discover.

Nathaniel and Mary Holbrook built the house. The Vanderlips, Behms, Johnstons, Oberlys, Shirley Hardman, and the Loparos each left their mark on the property. We were fortunate enough to add our own chapter as well.

Now that chapter is coming to a close.

On October 31, 2026, we will retire after fourteen wonderful years as innkeepers.

While we're looking forward to the next adventure, it's impossible not to feel grateful for everything this house has given us. The friendships, the stories, the memories, and the opportunity to care for a piece of Madison history have meant more than we can put into words.

The house will continue its story, just as it always has.

And when future owners of our home uncover an old photograph, or stumble across a piece of history hidden in a drawer or attic, we hope they'll feel the same connection to the generations who came before them.

We're grateful to have been one of those generations.

Thank you for being part of our story.

Laura & Norm