The home at 220 Madison Street, now known as the Azalea House Bed and Breakfast, is truly a grand lady with an illustrious past.  The "Calhoun Home" was started in 1878 and completed and occupied by 1880.  It was built by Marcos Loeb for Benjamin Alexander Calhoun, grandson of Benjamin Alexander Putnam (for whom Putnam County was named) and John C. Calhoun (twice Vice President of the United States).  The style is Queen Anne Victorian with multiple gables and protruding bays in the parlors and bedrooms.  According to local legend, the portrait above the west parlor fireplace is the likeness of Benjamin Alexander Putnam.

The home was occupied by the Calhoun family until the 1920's, when it was purchased by Marvin Martin.  After a number of years it became vacant and neglected.  Coy Welch purchased the home as a birthday present for his wife, Ann, in 1972 and they are responsible for much of the early restoration of the property, including fixing the porches, balconies and foundation, as well as restoring the yard.   Subsequent owners added the pool.

And now . . .

In 1999 the inn was purchased by Doug and Jill de Leeuw, and the renovations continued.  The Azalea House now boasts six beautiful guest rooms, central heat and air, new porches and railings, and an exceptional collection of over 100 pieces of needlework on display throughout the home.  The Calhoun Home is, once again, "The Pride of Palatka"!

The Azalea House has been set up in the style of a "real" bed and breakfast - meaning that much of the 5,000 square feet of the residence is open to guests.  The property has a formal parlor, a library-style living room, a formal dining room where guests have breakfast each morning, and decks with seating at the rear of the house that overlook a tropical swimming pool, gardens, and fish pond.  There are also wrap-around porches on the first floor and verandas, balconies and porches on the second floor.  The focal point of the home is a beautiful three-story heart- and curly-pine staircase that is open from the main hall all the way to the third floor.  It was the desire of the owners to make the inn as home-like as possible (and un-commercialized) and it has become popular with guests from all over!