“The Taconic School House” by Twin Lakes

An 1890 country landmark with quirky bones, a stones throw from the lake. 552 Twin Lakes Road in Salisbury, CT is a historic residence known locally as The Taconic School House—a property that reads part museum, part camp, part lived-in cabin. 

Built in 1890 on nearly 3 acres in one of Salisbury’s most coveted rural corridors, this nearly 4,442-square-foot house is an example of "adaptive reuse" long before that was a buzzword. The stone foundation and wood-framed structure retain their original attitude, anchored by thick walls, a large central fireplace, and interior wood-paneling that feels both vernacular and grand. 

Much of what makes the interior compelling is its eclectic vibe: rooms that feel like they were ripped fromchapters of a romance novel. There’s a gracious main foyer that leads into a paneled sitting room with a substantial fireplace; a lower level that doubles as a glass-enclosed pool cabana with its own secondary kitchen and bath; and generous space that suggests both social life and quiet retreat. The house presents three to four bedrooms and four full baths in configurations that can flex from conventional living to creative use. 

Outdoors, a fenced gunite pool and brick patio sit comfortably on the sunny side of the house, while lawns and woodlands offer room for play. A detached two-car garage adds practical scale to the estate. 

Located near the Massachusetts border in Salisbury’s Twin Lakes area, the house sits in a region that’s both rural and rich in outdoor life—lakes, hiking trails, and country roads open up in every direction, yet the core of Salisbury’s village and cultural amenities remain within easy reach. 

552 Twin Lakes Road, Salisbury (CT) is listed for $1,995,000, offered by Graham Klemm at Klemm Real Estate Inc.