Tom and Linda Munnell can hardly believe their large Victorian house was once a tiny dwelling when they purchased it in 1980.

They have completed numerous renovations and five additions since then, making it the picturesque house it is today.

"I love the space," Mrs. Munnell said.

The 1.6-acre lot at 428 N. Pitt St. in Mercer includes a garage and shed painted blue with white trim to match the house, a white picket fence, gazebo and large back yard.

The Munnell House is part of the Mercer Victorian Weekend Historic Town and Country House Tour, sponsored by Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce. The tour, from 1 to 5 p.m. July 20, will feature three homes and two bed and breakfast establishments.

The front part of the Munnell House was built in 1880 and the back section, in 1940. The first major project the Munnells tackled was converting three small rooms into what is now the living room. They also added a fireplace, which can be seen from the living and dining rooms.

A sun room, breakfast nook and master bedroom were added to the two-bedroom house to better accommodate the Munnells and their two children.

The master bedroom is highlighted by French doors that lead to a patio in the back yard, surrounded by a grapevine, lilies, hydrangeas and other plants and flowers.

An interesting item in the bedroom is an antique infant cradle originally owned by Mrs. Munnell's great-great-grandfather Tait of Coolspring Township. The cradle now holds dolls, but Mrs. Munnell used it for her children when they were babies.

The most intriguing room of the Munnell House is their library, which used to be a bedroom. Like most of the house, the walls of the room are covered with old family photos.

However, some of the people pictured aren't even related to the Munnells. They have purchased antique photos at flea markets over the years. One display includes a window frame filled with small items such as cuff links, buttons and pins with photos on them.

Mrs. Munnell said the photos of strangers have become "instant ancestors." She also framed a letter that her grandfather received in 1918 from the president of Grove City College, giving him permission to teach in a local one-room schoolhouse.

"We're just lucky to have family that have kept things like that," Mrs. Munnell said.

If it weren't for her husband, the family might not even be living there now. When it was up for sale, he made a spur-of-the-moment offer before consulting with his wife. In the end, his offer was accepted and that was the end of their house-hunting. The Munnells are happy with the house and the way things have turned out.

Just up the road from the Munnells is the Christy House, at 341 N. Pitt St., which is owned by Marcia and Karl Christy. It was built around 1850 and the Christys have done at least one major renovation a year since they moved there in 1989.

"It's an old house," Mrs. Christy said. "It's a work in progress."

Additions to the seven-level house include two screened-in porches and new heat, electricity and siding. In 1995, all 57 of the windows were replaced, with the help of contractors.

Mrs. Christy said they spent much time stripping nearly every wall of three layers of wallpaper. She and her husband also put a lot of work into landscaping the property. Their latest project consisted of a new floor and counters in the kitchen.

Some antiques displayed throughout the house, such as old bottles and pottery, were discovered in the ground when excavation was done for a new water line in 1995. Mrs. Christy said her three children had a lot of fun digging up the old items.

The dining room contains a built-in china cabinet and china belonging to Mrs. Christy's grandmother. In the living room are a leather buggy whip and antique level her husband found while cleaning out the basement.

There is also a dry sink from the early 1800s that came from the farm where Christy grew up. A game board that Mrs. Christy's mother played with as a child hangs on the wall.

The Christys moved to the house when the children were young because they wanted to be closer to town. That's when Mrs. Christy did some research on the house. The first owner was Hiram McClain, whose wife, Eliza, was from Ireland.

The property was one of the largest in Mercer when it was built. It spans the area between Pitt Street and Route 19, which run parallel to each other.

"It's a great home to entertain in," Mrs. Christy said. "It meets everybody's needs and we've appreciated the bigger space."

The Christys have considered moving in the future because their children are grown, but Mrs. Christy isn't too crazy about the idea just yet.

"It would be hard to leave this house," she said.

On a different note, another featured home is Plant's Herb Farm Bed and Breakfast, 104 S. Foster Road, owned by Deborah and Howard Plant.

Visitors stay in a cedar log cabin that is perched atop a hill, tucked away in the woods. The cabin, which is eight years old, was designed by Mrs. Plant's mother and built by the Amish.

Mrs. Plant's mother was going to use the cabin as a retirement home, but she decided to move closer to town after some health problems. Before the Plants started to use the cabin as a bed and breakfast 1è years ago, they rented it out a few times as a home.

Now guests arrive from all over the country to stay overnight. The Plants have had all types of visitors, such as families, honeymooning couples, research scientists, teachers and priests.

"We have met so many wonderful people," Mrs. Plant said.

Guests are treated to a full, gourmet herbal breakfast, cooked by Mrs. Plant. It includes three types of bread, fresh fruit, two main courses, coffee, juice and herb tea, which comes from her own herb garden.

The Plants have turned the cabin into a lovely getaway. There is a loft bedroom with its own bathroom and private deck. The downstairs bedroom also has its own bathroom, including a clawfoot bathtub.

The main area of the cabin includes a gift shop, kitchen, couch and television. The shop includes items such as scented soaps, aromatherapy, cards with scenes from Mercer County, gardening tools, crafts and herbs from the Plants' garden.

"I handpainted most of the things that are in the shop," Mrs. Plant said. She also assembles flowers from her greenhouse for special occasions such as weddings.

The Plants live in a farmhouse next to the cabin, and their property spans 80 acres. Surrounding the cabin is an herb tea garden, an ornamental garden and various trails that guests can take through the woods.

Mrs. Plant is the third generation of her family to live on the farm of her grandparents, Phoebe and Elmer Kite. She and her husband have lived there for 26 years and have two children. Mrs. Plant spent her summers at the farm and is thrilled to call it her home.

"This is truly a dream come true," she said. "This is where I've always wanted to live."

The Plants have found that many people discover their bed and breakfast by word of mouth, but their Website (www.plantsherbfarm.com) also attracts customers. Mrs. Plant has also received many compliments on her gourmet breakfasts.

"I've had repeat customers in a year and a half, and that's terrific," she said.

Another house on the tour is the National House at 1174 Greenfield Road, which operated as a hotel and stagecoach depot in the early 1800s. Owner Phyllis Benson recently added bed and breakfast accommodations.

The Prasse Estate. 75 N. Spring Road, is a farmhouse built in 1843 and surrounded by century-old trees. Owners Gil and Nel Walters have spent much time restoring it to its natural beauty.

Tickets are required for the house tour. They can be purchased at the Victorian Days information booth July 19 and 20, and at the National House and the Prasse Estate on July 20. Tickets are $7 for adults and children 12 and older.

For more information on Mercer Victorian Days or the house tour, call Lucille Carlson at 724-662-2489 or Ann Hauser at the chamber office at 724-662-3883 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday.