The Taft House: This large Victorian house on the corner of Academy Street and Welwood Avenue was once the property of Thomas Taft, whose family were early settlers of Tafton in Pike County. Taft purchased the land from Joseph Atkinson in 1871 and constructed the elegant home that boasts ornate cornices, beautiful spindle work on its wrap-around porch, bay windows and an elaborate cupola with windows on all sides. The current owners, Estela Rojas and Jorge Perez, have lovingly restored the house and recently renovated the kitchen.  

The Plum House: Dr. Henry Plum and his wife May were the first residents of the home on River Street, built in 1898. The doctor had his medical practice there and also owned a livery stable on Church Street. They employed a stable boy and a maid at the house. After Dr. Plum died, his nephew Henry Plum and his wife Lillian and their two children, Lois and Henry II, moved there in 1939 from their home on Prospect Street to care for Aunt May. They lived here until their deaths -- Henry in 1974 and Lillian in 2008 at the age of 105. Their grand-daughter and her husband now live in the home.

The Perna House: The second Lakeville house on the tour is located in Woodlyn Hills near Cove Haven. It was built in 1993 by Russell and Joan Perna, along with architect Tom Baio of New Jersey. Built on a hill, the two-story home is “all windows” downstairs, and is a unique combination of three styles: a New England Cape Cod on the left, a Bucks County fieldstone house in the middle and a barn-like garage on the right. Inside, there’s country French kitchen with sunroom and rooms filled with restored antiques.

The Kalaski House: The newest house on the tour, this Lakeville house located on Crane Road was built in 2007 and has two stories, a finished basement, a great room, four bedrooms and a screened-in porch. Owner Christine Kalaski has decorated the house in country style with Amish-made furniture in some rooms. Although it may be new, she says, “It’s not a modern house.”

The Atkinson House: Joseph Atkinson, Sr., an early settler of Hawley, built this central hall colonial in 1834 where he and his wife Fanny raised their family. The interior of the Welwood Aveune house has been restored to its original grandeur by the current owners, Edward Ahern and David Hernandez. The rear section, lost in the flood of 1955, was recently rebuilt and now houses the kitchen. During each restoration, the exterior architectural detail of the main house was kept as close to the original as possible.