If you’ve ever wished walls could talk, consider your wish granted.

This Saturday, May 18, docents will be on hand at five historic homes in Lake Oswego as part of Oswego Heritage Council’s Historic Home Tour, answering your questions about each home’s architectural past. Here are some of the things you’ll discover:

●The Trueblood House was built in 1917 as a wedding gift by Samuel Owen to his daughter Angie. (Hopefully this doesn’t give my daughters any ideas…I was thinking more along the lines of some cooking lessons?).

●Parents were behind The Gilbert House too. Clara and Conrad Gilbert built this house for their son, Ralph and his wife Frances in 1960. A stone pathway linked it to the parents’ home located on an adjacent lot.

●The same architect who designed the Gilbert House also designed the Black Butte Ranch.

 ●Speaking of famous architects, Richard Sundeleaf designed the house remodel in 1956 of the Draper House on Oswego Lake and Pietro Belluschi designed the Griffith House being reconstructed on the Marylhurst campus.

●Don’t miss a bit of history passing you by when you enter the Draper House on the left. You’ll see what is thought to be a phone niche—remember those days—when land lines meant you had to stay put while talking?

●The Priestley House, only 54 feet wide, proves that good things come in small packages. It was honored as “Home of the Year” by Better Homes and Garden.

●The Griffith House also qualifies as a “small package” at 921 square feet. Built in 1951, it seems that sustainable living with small footprints was already on the radar in Lake Oswego.

The tour will be held Saturday, May 18, starting at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $20 for Heritage Council members; $30 for non-members and are available online or at the Heritage House at 398 10^th Street. Hurry as tickets are limited. For more information call 503.635.6373.