What is a long narrow house called?

A shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than about 12 feet (3.5 m) wide, with rooms arranged one behind the other and doors at each end of the house.

Are there any Southern plantations left?

More than 70 plantation homes remain in the area that includes the border counties of Grady and Thomas in Georgia and Jefferson and Leon in Florida. The area became a winter destination for Northerners who bought and preserved many of the homes after the Civil War.

Why does Louisville have so many shotgun houses?

Believed to be first built in the U.S. in Louisiana by free Haitians because of the compact lot size required, the shotgun house design may have been brought to Louisville by French fur traders and possibly first built in Shippingport.

Why is it called a shotgun shack?

Where did the name “shotgun house” come from? According to lore, shotgun houses got their name due to their linear design—theoretically a bullet shot through the front door could exit the back door without hitting anything.

What is a dog trot in a house?

Dog·trot : (in the Southern US) an open-ended passage that runs through the center of a house, flanked by two enclosed living spaces. Climate informed the Form Houses one room thick maximized cross ventilation. The thin plans also provided ample light that prohibited mold growth in dark areas.

Does plantation mean slavery?

The plantation system developed in the American South as the British colonists arrived in Virginia and divided the land into large areas suitable for farming. Because the economy of the South depended on the cultivation of crops, the need for agricultural labor led to the establishment of slavery.

What happened to the shotgun house on fixer upper?

Cameron and Jessica Bell appeared in a season three episode when they bought the infamous “Shotgun House.” Cameron and Jessica bought the house for $28,000, leaving them with almost $100,000 for renovations, which Chip and Joanna definitely used.

Why does New Orleans have so many shotgun houses?

Following the population boom of the early 1800s, housing demand increased, thus spurring the construction of shotgun houses. Structures of this type originated in West Africa, were then introduced to Haiti, and eventually made their way to New Orleans through Haitian and West African refugees, immigrants, and slaves.

What are some interesting facts about the log cabin?

Interesting Facts about the Log Cabin. The first log cabins in the Americas were built by emigrants from Sweden and Finland. Log cabins had been built in these countries for thousands of years. One man working alone could build a small log cabin in a few weeks. It went much faster if he had help. If the roof was high enough,…

How hard was it to build a cabin in the 1800s?

First, cabins required few tools (the ax and froe) and simple materials (lumber), so resources needed to build one were fairly easy to come by. Secondly, the building process was relatively simple. For a single man, it would take only a week or two to build a one-room cabin. With three men, it could be done in just a couple of days.

Why would you smooth the outside of a log cabin?

The outside was smoothed if the plan was to eventually apply some form of siding, or to make the logs more uniform in size and appearance. The logs of our cabin, estimated to have been built originally in the mid-1800s, were hewn on both the outside and inside.

What did pioneers use to decorate log cabins?

A lot of times they would have a chest that they brought with them from their homeland. This might have some decorations like a rug or candlesticks that the pioneers would use to make the log cabin feel like home. The first log cabins in the Americas were built by emigrants from Sweden and Finland.