The Lake House

Tom Lake and Bill Hajjar were best buddies in the Navy during World War II. Their wives likewise were very congenial. Tom especially recalls the Hajjar's parties where Anne would play the piano and Bill would lead the singing of the popular tunes of the day. After losing track following the war's end, they received a surprise phone call one day from Bill, "It's me. I’m in State College."

Tom had already been assembling a number of acres for a home site high on a bluff above Reedsville. Of course, they asked Bill to design them a home. Of course, Bill complied. The Lakes found the home to be perfect to their needs. In nearly half a century of occupancy and raising a family of four children, they never found a thing that they wanted to change.

The house is of Hajjar's typical split level design. A very large family room is under the four bedrooms of the two-floor wing. A large kitchen and dining area with built-in buffet is separated from the large, sunken living room by an open book-shelf divider. Other wings contain a multi-car garage and a screened-in porch, as can be viewed below.

The living room furniture was specially selected for this home by Hajjar, who traveled to New York City to make the selections. The mid-century style is now highly collectible.