The Berlin House
Asa and Beatrice Berlin
550 Glenn Road
1955
The Berlin House is one of the “Houses for Three Veterans” grouped together on Glenn Road near the Orlando Road intersection. (See also The Tukey House and The Grosslight House, which are on the opposite side of the street.) While the dwellings are highly distinctive in appearance, they share in design a low-pitched roof, a large rectangular chimney, and an attached carport.
Asa was a professor in speech pathology at Penn State, but became better known about town as a commentator on classical music for WPSU radio. Both he and Bea were on the Board of Directors of the State College Community Theater and were frequent performers in summer plays at The Boal Barn Theater.
Daughter Susan recalls that the driveway turned out to be much steeper than her parents had anticipated. They had expected that the house would be more level with the road. The drive did receive afternoon sun, however, helping to keep it clear in winter.
The living room has a distinctive fireplace and indirect lighting. Note the wood storage area under the firebox.
Storage and display space is opposite the fireplace.
Classic period chairs complete the décor.
The dining room looks out onto a large rear garden and patio.
A divider peninsula separates the dining room and kitchen. Formica countertops have been replaced with sealed cement.
The inset shelf is for a telephone rather than being a food pass through. Such shelves were common in the period of dial telephones.
The master bedroom features a built-in headboard and night stands.
All bedrooms feature natural wood sliding closet doors, per above.
Period lights can illuminate the driveway approach and front porch at night.
A shaded patio is in the rear off of the dining room and kitchen. The concrete pad is new; originally daughter Susan recalls a pit for garbage cans.