Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-04-02
Concerning Building q Farm
House.

Houses should be built in the winter, or
at least should be contrived in that season
We have more cold than heat to provide
against Many of our houses were built
as If We lived in tropical Climate. How
many days in the year do we enjoy the
open verandah? It's very look is chilling
most of the year. The exterior outline of
some houses is SO irregular, that rot
only is the cost increased, but larger sur
face is exposed 10 the cold, and the princi-
pal rooms almost isolated. We know that
a form of building nearly square gives
more room at q given cost, and is more
economical of heat-both on account of
less outer surface exposed, and on account
OF the compact position of the rooms.
The objection TO this form is its want of
architectural beauty. But this badness Of
look may be relieved, and a truly handsome
appearance may be given. by an agreeable
style of the roof and ornamental porches
and windows. Il.
The former style of building. with hall
separating the principal rooms of the
house, above aud below, is as we'll con-
trived to make q cold house as any thing
can be. It makes one shudder to think OF
going into this open hall. or into the prin-
cipal rooms opening il to it They are not
much used how-the family room being in
the rear, or in wing, entered from with
out by d side door. The whole front has a
dark, uninviting look in the evening.
The present rural domestic style of liv-
ing calls for another style of domestic
architecture. It is almost universal that
the front doors of the large farm houses
are not used, except on extraordinary oc-
casiOns. We go into the side door by the
beaten path, or, it evening, led by the
light. This custom being fixed. the style of
building should be adapted to it. the
family room Tor library, or ante GROOM, J
should be easily reached, by door directly
from a sheltered porch, If on the warm
side of the house and if not on the warm
side. by an entry, we'll lighted from the
room within as we'll as from without. 1t
would be well if this room should be in
front, or the house should have us front
according to the surrounding aspect, rath-
er than by the line of the highway. This
room need not be large, if the parlor
opens from it, so that they may be one
when the company requires it.
would suggest, also, that the kitchen
and dining room be so arranged that they
may be made, when necessary, as one room,
The stairway, instead OF having cold out
door, should be central and should receive
the surplus heat. To temper the atmosphere
of the upper rooms.
As tee old, open fireplace is now dis
carded, some provision is necessary for
ventilation in the kitchen. IT the rooms
above admit it, simple tube made Of four
wide boards. opening directly over the
stove, take off the heat and vspor very sat-
isfactorily. 1t should be So arranged that
the open tube can be readily closed and
the top, which rises TO the height of
chimney, should be Slated and ornament
ed 1t should be large. HEE
Most large farm houses have wash
rooms attached, which may be used for,
cooking in very warm weather, leaving
the dining room and kitchen cool. These
rooms, then, may be so arranged, as to Sc:
cure greater comfort and economy of fuel,
in very cold weather.-N Reed, in Coun-
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