Life in the 1800s

On Easter weekend I got a chance to visit Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. It was a beautiful day with white fluffy clouds and blue skies. 

A perfect atmosphere for walking the trails and spending the day picnicking in the park. 

Among the attractions of the state park, there was an exhibit that intrigued me the most, Barrington Living History Farm. On the farm you get to take a step back in history to the time of the last president of the Republic of Texas, Dr. Anson Jones. He served as president of the Republic in 1844 until Texas became the 28th state of America in 1845. There were costumed interpreters conducting themselves much like the people on the original farm and we were free to ask questions and take part in the daily chores and activities that were vital to living in that time.


In 1844, Dr. Jones moved to Barrington Farm (named after his hometown in Massachusetts) with his wife, four children, his sister, his wife's four half-sisters, and his slaves. The house that we visited was the original structure built in 1844, but was relocated to the current Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site as part of the Texas Centennial Celebration in 1936.


When I got there I didn't know that I would be posting about the site and I didn't take many pictures, so just ignore the pretty people in them! ;)

The house is called a "dog-trot" or "dog run" type of house. The first floor had four rooms. Two on each side separated by the dogtrot or open area that led to the back of the house and kitchen. The second floor was off limits to us due to the steepness of the stairs but it was used as dormitories for the older children of the family. 

To the right, and front of the house, is the parlor used for entertaining, a personal library/office, and to spend family time. It contained this spinning wheel which was used for making cotton into thread.

Behind the parlor was the dining room. It was probably used during the cooler months of the year while the dogtrot was used during the warmer months. The cook would usually serve pork, corn, vegetables and fruits, and breads. Occasionally there would be wild game and poultry. They ate pork often because it was a smaller animal to slaughter and the meat would not waste whereas a cow would be much bigger and a lot of meat would be left over with no place to store it! This is why they reserved beef for special occasions.

To the left and front of the house was the master bedroom. The room was shared by Dr. Jones and his wife and his two youngest children. There was a queen sized bed which was not made of feathers, but dried corn husks! They may have changed it to feathers during the winter months. Next to the bed was a cradle and under the bed was a trundle bed that would slide out and be used for the second youngest child. During that time it was not uncommon for children to sleep with their parents until around age eight. Behind the master bedroom was another room that probably belonged to Dr. Jones's sister. She also had a queen sized bed made of dried corn husks. Miss Jones taught the children of the farm and probably used this room, in addition to the parlor, to teach lessons.

Next to each bed there was a large basin and pitcher along with a bar of soap and washcloths. This was used for daily hygiene. When I asked about the bathrooms I was really glad that I live in present times but then again if I lived back then I wouldn't know the difference. Outhouses were not invented yet so men would just do their business outside on some corner of the land. Women would sometimes use chamber pots which were stored under the bed.

http://exhibits.museum.state.il.us/

The bathing arrangements were not any better. Bathing in a bath tub with soap would take place once a week. Usually on a Saturday so that the family would be clean for Sunday church. Since the man of the house had to do the hard work of pumping the water and bringing it back to the house, he would get the honor of bathing first. Next the wife got to bathe and then the oldest child down to the youngest (without changing the water!). While speaking to one of the interpreters at the farm, she pointed out that most of the inhabitants would work out in the fields close to streams and suggested that who would not want to jump into nice cool water at the end of a hard work day?? Still, I would not be able to sleep at night not knowing what kind of germs are lingering on my body!

The back porch of the house led to the kitchen quarter, a chicken coop, a kitchen garden, and a smokehouse. The kitchen quarter was by far my personal favorite in this experience. It was built as an outbuilding, separate from the main house. This is because there were heat and fire concerns. There were no electrical stoves so everything had to be cooked over an open fire! 

There was actual food in those pots. The one on the right contained cookies and on the left was a cake. This method of cooking requires you to rotate the pot occasionally so all sides get even heat. 

Keep in mind that the room was very tiny and there was a large fireplace in it. This made it extra warm and toasty. Ideal for winter months but a nightmare during the summer.

All the ingredients needed for meals were provided right from the farm. The garden provided fruits and vegetables, the chickens provided fresh eggs, and the cows provided fresh milk. They literally LIVED OFF the farm. 

There was no refrigeration so in preparation for the winter months the family would butcher several hogs and pack the meat in salt for about a month. The meat was then wrapped in cloth and smoked over a low fire for 24 hours/day for one week. This resulted in cured not cooked meat. It was stored in the cool, dark smokehouse for the rest of the year until use.

The barn was a double crib barn which is two small storage sheds joined together with one roof. A little like the concept of the dog-trot house. This barn housed tools and animal feed. The stalls behind the barn provided shelter to the animals which included roosters, oxen, and turkeys!

There were also slave quarters present which housed several slaves who served as everything from field hands to house servants. The slaves rooms were big enough for two twin sized beds, a table for eating, and a small fireplace. It was made of log structures with dirt or wood floors and a mud-and-stick chimney.

Well that does it for this trip to the past. I absolutely enjoyed this journey and was so excited by it that I just want to learn more and more. I hope you also enjoyed this post. If you have anything to add please feel free to do so!

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