George Harrison's Benton House: A Relic at Risk

The house where George Harrison of the Beatles stayed during a visit to his sister in Benton, Illinois, in September 1963 is now for sale. This five-bedroom bungalow, built in 1935, was where Harrison experienced local life just months before his band's U.S. debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show." In 1995, the property at 113 McCann Street was slated for demolition but was saved by activists. It later operated as the Hard Day's Nite Bed and Breakfast, showcasing Beatles memorabilia, before closing in 2010.

Currently, the house is being sold by owner Grady Adams for $105,000, who has been operating it as apartments. While the city's economic development director suggested protective ordinances, the city council has not yet discussed the matter. There is uncertainty about renewed interest in preserving the house's Beatles connection, as local sentiment suggests the initial fervor has subsided since the 1990s preservation efforts. Harrison's brief, anonymous visit to Benton, which included camping and visiting local music venues, remains a notable part of the town's history.