Our Story

1810 Emerson House Bed & Breakfast is a Beloit, WI inn jointly owned by Tony and Beth Bonasera. Tony has worked in the telecommunications power industry since he graduated in 1979 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and recently retired in February 2026. Tony also spent time as a part-time Realtor and local caterer. Beth has worked part-time for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program as a nutritionist since 1983 and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Beth previously managed a gourmet chocolate shop and sold Park Lane jewelry.

Tony and Beth met in a ballroom dance class. It was love at first sight (at least on Tony’s part!). Three months later they were engaged and 6 months later married in the fall of 1982. They raised their two sons and daughter in Elgin, IL until they moved to Beloit, WI in 2015 and opened 1810 Emerson House Bed & Breakfast in 2016. All three have moved on to pursue their careers and raise their own families, so Tony and Beth are true empty nesters except for their feline fur babies Pearl and Delilah that only reside in their roomy innkeeper’s quarters.

Tony and Beth have always had a knack for hosting and entertaining. And they have always enjoyed the intimacy and fellowship of staying at bed and breakfasts, hoping to one day run their own. After decades of searching, in 2015 they believe the Lord led them to find the perfect house in Beloit, WI, one that met all their qualifications for both a bed and breakfast venture and probably their final home. Confirmation after confirmation has given them the peace to know that this place was set aside specifically for them. Come join them as they set out to pamper their guests as only they can!